Wiley Avant Jr.

Wiley Avant Jr., age 98, passed away on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, in Wichita, Kansas. He was born on October 20, 1926, to the late Wiley and Cevilla (Roark) Avant Sr. in Thornton, Texas. He was the brother of:  Chresteen, twins, Lewis and Lois, Jackie, Dorothy, James, and Bill.

On December 3, 1950, Wiley married Hurley Erickson in San Diego, California and two children, Steven and Sandra, completed their family in 1951 and 1953 respectively.

Wiley was a proud veteran, enlisting in the U.S. Navy in January of 1944, where during his 22-year tenure, he earned the rank of BM1 as well as the National Defense Medal and received an honorable discharge in January 1966.

Family was one of his greatest accomplishments. Not only did he come from a family of 8 children, after Steven and Sandra made him a dad, he later became a grandpa and great grandpa, taking in the extreme joy of the family he and Hurley built together.

A life well lived and memories to be remembered.

Survived by  loved ones: children, Steven (Jacqueline) Avant and Sandra (Michael) Sorensen; grandchildren: Teresa Pearcy, Jason (Gina) Avant;  Michael Sorenson; Amanda (Andy) Brown; Alicia (Tim) Strobel; and Scott Sorensen; and great grandchildren: Amber Pearcy Green, Kyle Pearcy, Dayton Butcher, Alyssa Avant, Katie Avant, Tori Avant,  Joe Avant, Jack Avant, Colton Brown, Alivia Brown, Caden Brown, Ella Strobel, Ally Strobel, John Strobel, Connor Sorensen, Ayden Sorensen, Declan Sorensen, and Lexi Sorensen; great-great-grandchildren: Miles Brown, Isaac Brown, Madison Pearcy, Alyssa Green; and brother, Bill Avant.

Wiley is reunited with those gone before, his bride, Hurley and siblings: Chresteen Avant, Lewis Avant, Lois Hargraves, Mildren Crowson, Dorothy Beck, and James Avant.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Wiley's memory may be made to Quilts of Honor, https://www.quiltsofhonor.org/.

A private family interment will take place at Resthaven Gardens of Memory, Garden of Christus, 11800 W. Kellogg, Wichita, KS 67209.