Patricia "Trish" Runnion Avery

Trish, a longtime resident of High Point, North Carolina, was the daughter of the late Robert Scott Runnion Jr. of Raleigh and the late Patricia Morgan Runnion, originally of Queensland, Australia. She was the oldest of three children, including brother, Robert Scott Runnion III, and sister, Margaret “Maggie” Runnion Robbins.

Trish graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a degree in English. She brought her keen eye for design to a career in the furniture industry, including many years with Henredon in North Carolina, where she worked as a showroom manager.

After retiring in 2013, Trish moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, to be closer to her son, Robert Oldham Avery, and her grandsons, Spence Oldham Avery and Rollin Adams Avery.

Trish was a longtime member of Knoxville’s Episcopal Church of the Ascension, where she was especially active in the Wednesday Bible study and found friendship and community.

She is survived by her sister, Maggie Robbins (Duffy) of Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania; her son, Robert Avery (Alison) of Knoxville; her grandsons, Spence Avery and Rollin Avery; and her nieces, Erin Lima (Peter), Katie Ondusko (Russell), and Scottie Kapel (Freddie).

In addition to her parents, Trish was preceded in death by her brother, Robert Scott Runnion III of Jacksonville, Florida, and her eldest son, Daniel Morgan Avery of Wilmington, North Carolina.

A memorial service celebrating Trish’s life will be held Saturday, October 17, 2026 at 11 a.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Knoxville. The Rev. Christopher Hogin will officiate