February 14, 2020

Robert Dale Avery

12-26-1931 to 02-11-2020

Linn County News

Published Feb. 19, 2020

Robert Dale Avery, age 88, of Pleasanton, Kan., passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, at St. Joseph Medical Center in Kansas City, Mo. Dale was born the son of Harry and Alpha Mae Miller Avery on Dec. 26, 1931, on the home place back in the hollow at Prescott, Kan.

Dale graduated from Prescott High School in 1949. His parents thought he should go to college, so off to Kansas State he went and attended for one year. But it was not the farm, so he went back home to help his parents. He decided to give oil work a shot, moved to Wichita and worked at Cessna for a year. Again, it was not farming so back home he came. 

In 1951, he enlisted into the Navy Reserves and served for eight years. 

On June 29, 1958, he married Joan Staton at the Baptist Church in Prescott. To this union two daughters were born, Janet and Dorothy. To this day, Dale and Joan still lived on the farm.

Dale helped organize the Linn County Co-op and was on the first board; over the years he served four different terms. He also served on many different boards – Linn County Farm Bureau, Linn County Soil Conservation, president of the Linn County Planning Board, Linn County Rural Water District No.2 – and helped organize the Linn County Polled Hereford Association and served as president and secretary over the years.

Dale took farming as a full-time job; he taught his wife, daughters and grandkids how to use the machinery and drive the tractors. He did not take many trips, but he did surprise Joan on their 42nd and 45th anniversaries with trips to Alaska and Hawaii.

Dale was preceded in death by his parents; brother Earl and wife Mary; and his in-laws, Pete and Marie Staton. 

He is survived by his wife Joan of 61 1/2 years, of the home; two daughters, Janet Gabbert and Wayne of Prescott, and Dorothy of Pleasanton; five grandchildren; and five great grandchildren with a sixth on the way.

Funeral service was Friday, Feb. 14, 2020, at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Pleasanton Chapel. Burial was at the Battlefield Cemetery.

The family suggests contributions to Mid America Heart Association, St. Luke’s or your church of choice. Online condolences may be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.