Avery was born in Lincoln, Nebraska to Avery Benjamin and Florine Reed Pickering. He was the second of five children: Beth, Avery, Adele, Eugene, and Leslie.
He lived in Lincoln until 1937 when the family moved to California settling in Vanuys. Upon finishing high school, Avery returned to Lincoln with his good friend John Huggins. Shortly after their arrival, along with other friends, they joined the United States Navy in the midst of World War II. At the conclusion of the War, he returned to Lincoln where he met and married Twila Lee Otopalik on October 12,1947. To this union were born five children: Avery Reed Jr., Carolyn Lee, JoAnne, Linda Sue, and Robert Eugene.
Like his father, Avery Sr. worked in the automotive repair business his entire life enjoying a reputation as one of the best. In 1960, after years of working for and managing various service shops, he partnered with Roy Jones to open Pickering and Jones Automotive on the corner of 16th & O Streets in
downtown Lincoln. Almost 20 years later Avery Jr. joined the business and the name was changed to Pickering Automotive. Robert joined the partnership 10 years later.
During the 50’s and early 60’s, Avery was involved in racing. He enjoyed racing at Capital Beach Raceway with Car #13, driven by John Wilkinson, finishing with a 2nd point standing in 1961 and a 5th point standing in 1962. In 1959, Avery also competing in drag racing, a stock class 1959 Plymouth Fury. He competed regionally, ultimately qualifying and competing at Nationals in Detroit.
Avery loved nature – camping, air boating, watching birds, gardening and just being outside. After his years in racing, he built a cabin on the Platte River, enjoying many weekends down there. Gradually updating and enlarging the original A-frame into a bigger house to host a growing family for long holiday weekends and ultimately, upon Twila Lee’s passing, making it his permanent home.
Avery and Sylvia Sue were married in June 1993. They lived in Avery’s cabin, undertaking multiple renovations to make it their home, with Avery and family doing most of the work themselves. Each year they enjoyed tending a vegetable garden, traveling to Isla Mejures, Mexico with Sue’s brother Lou and wife Ulla, camping with Avery’s brother Gene and wife Joy along with many family at Grand Lake, Colorado or the forest beaches of Oregon. They were serious Husker fans and enjoyed season box seats to every home game with friends. Avery and Sue’s daily rhythms included relaxing on the river dock in the evening, watching birds and the river before dinner and then enjoying John Wayne westerns and Turner Classic Movies. Avery always knew all the actors. Special times were the holiday meals shared with the whole family at the cabin on Easter, 4th of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Avery was a problem solver, he could fix anything and diagnose car problems just by listening to you. He saw the value and took good care of many old things. He was always willing to lend a hand and was generous with his time. Avery was a dear man. He was a good and faithful husband and father. We will miss him very much!
Avery is survived by his wife of 25 years, Sylvia Sue of Ashland, Nebraska; his brother Gene(Joy) of Woodland, California, and his sister Adele Chenoweth of Portland, Oregon. Survived by his children, Avery Jr. (Linda) of Lincoln, Carol (Bill) Walkinshaw of Lincoln, Jodi (Larry) Beck of Lincoln, Linda Sue(Chuck) Hladik of Douglas, Robert(Teresa) of Lincoln, Cindy (John) Narvaiz of California, Sara (Chris) of Ashland, Rebecca of Omaha ; 17 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents Avery and Florine Pickering, his wife Twila Lee, sisters, Beth and Leslie, and great-grandson Riley Huenik.
