Harold David Avery

On Dec. 10, 2020, the world lost a good man.

Harold David Avery was born in Whitefish to Harold W. and Mary Hunt Avery, joining an older brother, Bruce. His family always called him David, but he would earn many names over his lifetime: Dad, Grandpa, Uncle Dave, and said more than once, call him whatever you would like, “just don‘t call him late for dinner.” He would spend most of his growing up years in Whitefish, then he and his mother would move to Spokane. As a teenager and he would go on to graduate from Rogers High School. After his school years, Harold enlisted in the United States Navy. He would humbly speak little of his service years, although he was proud to have served his country. His adulthood would bring laborers work and the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) as their training director. He would have a lifelong career with the union and be honored later in his career by the naming of a training center after him located in Kingston, Washington.

He married his wife Nancy in Spokane and inherited two children with that union, Kim and Ray. He and Nancy would also have a daughter of their own, Heather. Later in life they would take on the raising of their grandsons Brandon, Aaron and Jordan. Heather blessed them with the addition of a granddaughter, Tiffany, who was the apple of her grandfather’s eye. He was present when she took her first breath and she was with him when he took his last.

He spent many years in Ocean Shores, Washington, but his retirement plan was always to move back to Montana. Harold and Nancy at this point had gone their separate ways, and he would move to Libby to be near his brother. His remaining years were spent enjoying the beauty of his beloved Montana, sharing stories with his family and friends. His brother and he had a special bond and they both enjoyed being closer to one another in their later years.

Harold always loved dogs, and greatly enjoyed the companionship of his four-legged friends. When his beloved Puppers met his end, he, after a few months, made the announcement he was going to the shelter to adopt a dog, a small dog; he missed having one in the house. He came home with a 100-pound moose of a dog; when asked why he would choose that big guy, the dog came with a story and after he heard it he said, “I had to take him, who else would have him?” They turned out to be wonderful, gentle, loving companions for each other in his last years. He named him Friend.

His son, Ray would join him three years ago to help him navigate all the chores of home and yard and together they enjoy one another’s company; they loved watching football, most especially the Seahawks. Ray was his tireless companion and loving caregiver, and he was much appreciated by his dad.

Harold was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his children, Kim, Ray and Heather, his grandchildren, Brandon, Aaron, Jordan and Tiffany, his brother Bruce, and nieces, Tammy and Shannon.

No services are planned.