William Justin Avera

Born Nov. 15, 1921, in New Augusta, Miss., he died Saturday, June 14, 2008, in Baton Rouge. He attended Perkinston Junior College in Mississippi. He earned a bachelor's degree in music education from LSU, where he was a member of Kappa Kappa Psi music fraternity and the LSU Tiger Band. He was a World War II Navy veteran, having served in North Africa. He was in the U.S. Navy band and a member of the original crew which commissioned the USS Lake Champlain (CV-39) air craft carrier. He was a high-school band director, having taught music in East and West Baton Rouge, Pointe Coupee, St. Martin and Lafourche parishes. He was a local jazz musician, playing bass guitar. He was a longtime member of St. Agnes Catholic Church. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Elizabeth Hamilton Avera; seven children, William J. "Buster" and Robbin Avera, Cut Off, Dixie A. and Andrew Karnowski, Overland Park, Kan., David W. and Carolyn Avera, Plaquemine, Catherine A. and Keith Lauter Sr., Baton Rouge, Lucy A. and Ross Perry, Kansas City, Mo., John A. Avera, Baton Rouge, and Mary A. and Robert Addison, Sunshine; and 14 grandchildren, Adelaide and Francine Avera, Grace and Anna Kate Karnowski, Keith Jr., Lara and Scott Lauter, William, Caroline, Mary Frances and Thomas Avera and Genevieve, Leslie and Will Addison. Preceded in death by his mother, Nina Crippen Avera and father, William Abner Avera; brothers, Ross P., Edwin, and Jack Avera; sisters, Nina Colmer, Mary Alice Wood, Bessie Lee and Helen Clark; infant sister, Genevieve Avera; and infant grandchildren, John Hamilton Avera and Kurt McMichael Lauter. Pallbearers will be Keith Lauter Jr., William Avera, Robert Addison, Keith Lauter Sr., Andrew Karnowski and Ross Perry. Honorary pallbearers are Scott Lauter and Will Addison. Special thanks to Dr. Michael Rolfsen, Dr. Carl Luikart, all the many nurses who provided special care over the past several years from Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Metro Preferred Home Care and Baton Rouge Hospice. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Agnes Catholic Church or the charity of your choice. Visitation at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 749 East Blvd., Baton Rouge, on Monday, June 16, from 11 a.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 1 p.m., with the Rev. Monsignor Robert H. Berggreen, celebrant. Burial in St. Gabriel Catholic Cemetery, St. Gabriel. Rabenhorst Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.