He was originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma and remained proud of his Oklahoma roots and close to his classmates at Tulsa Central High School.
In 1956, Nathan graduated from his beloved alma mater, the Colorado School of Mines as a petroleum engineer and then served in the Army Corps of Engineers in Ft. Belvoir, VA. He went on to have a long and storied career in the oil and gas industry. After his first job at Texaco, he followed his dream of building his own company, acquiring Mattco in 1967, TTE in 1968, Foster in 1969 and purchasing control of the Galveston-Houston company in 1972. In 1979, GH was listed on the New York Stock Exchange. He remained active in the oil business until the time of his death. Nathan was a member of the River Oaks Country Club and a loyal parishioner of Christ Church Cathedral, Houston, Texas. He was a active and dedicated member of both his industry and community, committing his time, resources and heart to numerous causes and schools. Nathan Avery’s greatest passion, however, was his family, especially his adored wife of more than 60 years, Sally Galbreath Avery, whom he constantly referenced as “the cutest girl I’ve ever known.” He was a devoted and proud father and grandfather, always generous with his advice, time and love.
Nathan Mark Avery was predeceased by his parents, Nathan and Rena Avery; and his cousin Phyllis Adels. He is survived by his wife, Sally Galbreath Avery; his children, Mark Galbreath Avery and his wife Nissa, Paige Avery Larson and her husband Michael, and Jonathan Stuart Avery. He is also survived by his adoring grandchildren, Sally Rose Larson, Elizabeth Avery Larson, Nathan John Avery, Abigail Thayer Avery, Paige Rena Avery, Augustus George Avery, Lars Remsen and Antonia and their son, Finn, Chris Remsen, Michael Patrick Larson, and Christopher Kelly Larson and his wife Kaleigh.
Friends are cordially invited to a memorial reception from five o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening on Tuesday, the 16th of January, in the grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.
A memorial service is to be conducted at two o’clock in the afternoon on Wednesday, the 17th of January, at Christ Church Cathedral, 1117 Texas Avenue in Houston, where The Very Reverend Barkley S. Thompson is to officiate.
Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception to be held in the nearby Sanders Hall.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests that memorial contributions in Mr. Avery’s name be directed to the Colorado School of Mines Foundation, Inc., for an Endowed Chair in Petroleum Engineering for students from Texas, PO Box 912031, Denver, CO 80291-2031; or to the charity of one’s choice.
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