Mary Esther Avery

Posted on July 13, 2022

Mary Esther Avery, 85, passed away on July 5, 2022, in Dowling Park. She was born Oct. 1, 1936, to Wesley Columbus Stanaland and Edwa Jo Elizabeth Stephens Stanaland. Esther was a Primitive Baptist and a member of Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church. She was a business owner in Perry for more than 40 years. Her many talents included cake decorating, upholstery and sewing. Her love for sewing led to her opening a fabric shop, where she did sewing, alterations and quilting. Esther was preceded in death by: her parents, Wesley Columbus Stanaland and Edwa Jo Elizabeth Stanaland; her husbands, John Henry Hunter and Charles Avery; two sons, James Ray Hunter and wife, Chrysta, and Samuel Carl Hunter; and siblings, Wesley (Bonnie) Stanaland, Joel (Jerry) Stanaland, Edwa Jo (Fred) Bell and Sarah (Rupert) Nobles. She is survived by: her daughters, Jane (Jimmy) Brock and Dana Ratliff; daughter-in-law, Joyce Hunter; stepchildren, John Avery, Millie (Ronnie) Fulford, David (Kathy) Avery and Tammie (Curtis) Anspaugh; siblings, Tommie (Mary Jo) Stanaland and Janice (Wayne) Barringer; six grandchildren, Jerod (Stephanie) Brock, Joanna (Andrew) Bass, Hannah (Chance) Walley, Stacy (Justin) Overstreet, Adam Hunter, Desi Hunter and Nicholas Hunter; and nine great-grandchildren; as well as a host of nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Friday, July 15, at 2 p.m. at Burns Funeral Home of Perry with Tommie Stanaland officiating. Interment services will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Friends may sign the online guest book at www. joepburnsfuneralhomes. com.