Virginia Patton Avery

Virginia Patton Avery passed away peacefully after a short and courageous battle with cancer on March 9, 2021, one month before her 96th birthday. She is reunited with her beloved husband Chad, who preceded her in death 19 years ago. Virginia was born on April 7, 1925, in Charleston, West Virginia. She was the second child of six born to Romeo Freer and Mary Behling Patton. She attended a four-room elementary school where she excelled in academics, and graduated from Stonewall Jackson High School in 1942. Her childhood home was filled with love, laughter, music, and the teachings of the Savior. Her youth was significantly shaped and influenced by the Great Depression and World War II. Rather than following the traditional path for most post-high-school young women of pursuing a wartime-influenced vocation, Virginia instead chose to leave her beloved West Virginia home to attend college at Brigham Young University in 1943. She loved language and the arts and pursued that course of study. While at BYU she was set up on a blind date with Chad Avery, and on November 8, 1945, they were married and sealed for time and eternity in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While Chad finished school and began an accounting career Virginia put her education on hold to focus on growing a family. Five children joined the young family in their first seven years, before an opportunity came for Chad and Virginia to relocate the family from Provo, Utah to Phoenix, Arizona. The last of their six children joined the family in Phoenix. Virginia again bucked the tradition for young mothers and resumed her education. She earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, and later a master’s degree in education from Arizona State University. She taught and influenced hundreds of young third-graders over her 25-year teaching career in the Scottsdale School District. When Chad and Virginia became empty-nesters they moved from their original Phoenix home of 25 years to a more comfortable home in Scottsdale. They were warmly welcomed in their new neighborhood, and this home became the gathering place for their children and grandchildren for the next 25 years. Following Virginia’s retirement her life became increasingly focused on serving others. She served in countless ways, from preparing meals for those in need, to making baby quilts for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Hundreds of friends and family members have enjoyed the warmth and comfort of her beautiful quilts. She sang in and directed many different choirs and musical groups, chauffeured other elderly neighbors around town (even at age 95!), and led her retirement community’s water aerobics class (which she turned over to another leader after she turned 92). Virginia was a devoted and faithful member of the Church. She taught her children gospel principles, faith in Jesus Christ, and showed by example how to follow in His footsteps. From her earliest years and throughout her life, she served in many different capacities in the Church. Her church callings included teaching young children in Primary, teaching young women, serving in leadership capacities, and even serving as camp cook for girls’ camp for several years. Her favorite church positions, though, involved leading and directing the sacred hymns. Music was her primary passion throughout her life, and there are literally thousands of members of dozens of choirs and congregations who have been influenced and inspired by her musical direction. After her teaching career ended Virginia served three different church missions. In her first mission she served as secretary of the Arizona Phoenix Mission from 1990 to 1993. She later served in the Family & Church History Mission in Salt Lake City twice; from 2003 to 2005, and from 2007 to 2008. She served faithfully in the Mesa Arizona Temple for over twenty years, and has also indexed and arbitrated over 130,000 family history records for FamilySearch over the past 15 years. Virginia and her beloved husband Chad were happily married for more than 56 years. After Chad’s passing her solo years were a continuation of service to her family, her community, and her Savior. After her final mission in Salt Lake City she moved to the senior living community of Verde Groves in Mesa, where she once again settled into her familiar pattern of selfless service to those around her. She quickly became a beloved member of her new community. The overwhelming outpouring of love and condolences received after her passing stands as a testament to her service. In addition to her husband, Virginia is preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Nelson and Kumen, her sister Anna May, a son-in-law Paul Saunders, and a granddaughter Suzanne Cone. She is survived by her brothers Lyle and Joe Patton, and her children: Joyce (Alan) Jensen, Jeanette (Jack) Marsh, Diane Saunders, Richard (Cindy) Avery, Doug (Lisa) Avery, and Ken (Monique) Avery. Her posterity includes 34 grandchildren, 87 great-grandchildren (with #88 arriving in August), and many other grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren who have been grafted into the family tree through marriage. She also has dozens of nieces and nephews who love and admire their “Aunt Ginny.”