Gary Lee Averill

Gary Lee Averill, recent resident of Sebring, FL, former resident of Gaylord, MI. & Sacramento, CA, died March 9, 2019, at the Oaks of Avon in Avon Park, Florida.

Gary was born on November 23, 1944, in Traverse City, MI, son of the late Betty Belle (Harris) Averill of Bellaire, MI and Bradley R. Averill of Saginaw, MI. He is survived by his loving wife, Wanda; beloved sister, Sherry (Arnie) Harper of Adrian, MI.; nieces, Charlene Cline of Wayland, MI, Sue McGuire of Wixom, MI; grandson, Justin A.M. (Amber) Eppler of Colorado Springs, CO; and three great grandchildren. 

Gary served in the Navy from 8/17/1964 to 8/16/1970 and was assigned to the USS Robert A. Owens after training and acquired the rank of Boiler Tender II. Gary moved from Michigan to Sacramento, CA in 1982, and was hired by the State of California, Office of State Publishing. He worked as a Heating/Cooling Engineer for 20 years at that facility. Gary and Wanda were married on August 31, 1985, in Rancho Cordova, CA.

Gary had a great sense of humor and made many people laugh over his antics. He jumped out of  planes, scuba dived, snorkeled, made ships that fit in bottles and even put one in a tiny hot sauce bottle for his uncle Mel just to prove that he could do it. Gary loved to gold pan in the foothills of California. He obtained his Skippers Certification for sailboats from the Olympic Circle Sailing Club in Berkeley California for 50 foot and larger sailboats. We took four sailing vacations out of La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico on the Sea of Cortez. We loved to camp on the California coast north of Ft. Bragg, California and after moving back to Michigan in 2003, he enjoyed hunting.

 Gary's shining light is missed by many family members and friends.