Dorothy Thuerk Avery

Dorothy “Dody” Jane Thuerk Avery, 87, of Ann Arbor, MI, passed away on October 10, 2014 at Saline Evangelical Home. She was born March 14, 1927, in Erie, PA, to the late Hugh Campbell Thuerk and Ferol Louise Bull Thuerk.

In 1949 Dody received her BA in Fine Arts from Pembroke College in Brown University, and then completed a program at the University of Rochester School of Medicine where she received her certificate in medical illustration in 1952. She met her husband, James (“Jim”) Avery, at the University of Rochester and they married in 1950. In 1954 they moved to Ann Arbor when Jim joined the University of Michigan Dental School.

Dody played bridge for many years at the Ann Arbor Women's City Club and spent many summers painting water colors at the family cottage on Beaver Island. She enjoyed flower arranging and gardening, and in later years spent much of her time creating intricately patterned beaded bracelets, an interest she shared with her daughter and granddaughter.

Dody was preceded in death by her husband, James Knuckey Avery; sister, Jean Louise Thuerk Howland; and brother, Hugh Donald Thuerk. She is survived by her daughter, Nancy Jane Avery, of Battle Creek, MI; son David Lloyd Avery (Susan) of Beaver Island, MI; and son Robert Hugh Avery (Carol) of Coleman, MI. She is also survived by four grandchildren; John Paul Wilson of Battle Creek, Alan James Avery of Bermuda, and Sarah Victoria Avery and Forrest Nathaniel Nevill Avery of Beaver Island.

Cremation has taken place and a private family memorial is planned at a later date. Many, many thanks to the wonderful staff at the Saline Evangelical Home for their care of Dody this year and to the staff of Arbor Hospice who provided additional care to Dody in her last two weeks of life.