Cecil Thomas Avery

Cecil Thomas Avery departed this life on October 29, 2015, succumbing to the formidable progression of fronto-temporal dementia that he bravely faced 16 years.

“Tom” graduated from Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, Fla. after attending the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pa. where he pledged Sigma Nu Fraternity. He earned a Masters Degree in Chemical Engineering from V.P.I. in Blacksburg, Va. Tom worked for Celanese Corp., Olin Corp., Shell Oil, Dynamic Matrix Corp. and Aspen Technology over a course of 24 years.

His happiest times were spent serving the Boy Scouts of America and the American Red Cross for 11 years as a volunteer trainer in canoeing, sailing, lifeguard training, water safety and rescue, backpacking and repelling. As an assistant leader and leader of Boy Scout Troop No. 993, he logged many miles in the “Blue Goose” driving Scouts to high adventure programs at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, N.M., the Canadian-American boundary waters in Wisconsin, Ranch El Cimo, and Ranch Strake in Texas. He loved nature and once completed a week-long solo backpacking trip in the Wiminuche Wilderness of Colorado in his forties. The family is appreciative to the successive leadership of Troop 993 for including Tom in selected campouts, after his diagnosis, as long as it was safely feasible. The family is also indebted to Robert P. Cassity, Ph.D., Tom’s best friend since graduate school days, for movie-and-lunch dates years into Tom’s illness and to Elizabeth Cassity for many happy outing activities to George Ranch and other venues -- and sitting through Phantom of the Opera with him at least a dozen times.

Tom is preceded in death by his parents, Homer and Louise Avery of Jacksonville Beach Florida, and brothers Charles and William Avery. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Karen, brother John Hudson Avery of California, sister-in-law Carol Murphy of Dallas, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

The family is sincerely appreciative to the caring staffs of Silverado Senior Living Center, Colonial Oaks-Westchase, and West Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center after the onset of seizures.

A private grave-side service will be held with Chaplain R. Kurt Ennis officiating.

Memorial gifts may be directed in Tom’s name to The Association for Frontotemporal Dementias (AFTD) 100 North 17th Street, Suite 600, Philadelphia, Pa. 19103, or to the work of Dr. Paul E. Schulz, M.D. through The Center of Neurocognitive Disorders, UT Health Science Center at Houston, 1941 East Rd. Suite 4358, Houston, Tx. 77054.