1932 – 2020
Avery Stirratt III, of New Orleans, passed away peacefully the morning of Good Friday, April 10, 2020 at the Lambeth House. The cause of death was cancer. He will be greatly missed by many friends and his loving family. He is survived by his second wife, Marietta Moyer Lanier Stirratt; five children: Betsy (Blaise Cronin), Avery IV (Nada), Anne Elston (Jeff), Laurie (Carl Blackledge), and John (Crissy); four step-children: Charles Lanier Jr. (Reecee), Leslie Stumpff (Scott), Kathryn Lanier, and Evelyn Langdale (Pope); four grandchildren: Ben and Andrew Wolin, Erin Fitzmaurice, and Tallulah Stirratt; ten step-grandchildren: Charlie, George and Lucie Lanier; Shelby and Matthew Stumpff; Margot and Monroe White; and Lanier, Isabel and William Langdale and sister Betsy Stirratt Aubrey of Dallas, TX and her three sons. Avery was born in Baldwin, New York on April 21, 1932. In 1942, his family moved to New Orleans where he attended Metairie Park Country Day School. He graduated from Tulane University in 1954, where he was the president of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Navy, where he proudly served as an officer. While stationed in Long Beach, CA, he met and married Betty Lou Chadwick (deceased) of Carthage, MS. Avery and Betty Lou returned to New Orleans where Avery founded Sno-Ball Supply Company. In 1972, they relocated to Mandeville, where they raised their five children. Avery remained in the food service supply business until just three years ago, when he retired from National Fruit Flavor at the age of 85. Betty Lou passed away in January of 1992, and Avery reconnected with his sister’s former Southern Methodist University roommate, Marietta, who had been widowed. Together they spent 25 years traveling the world, visiting all their children and grandchildren and exploring national parks. A devoted family man and lifelong optimist, Avery was a great source of inspiration to his children and extended family. A music lover, he attended concerts and festivals until his death, where he enjoyed seeing his children Laurie and John perform. He was an enthusiastic and deeply committed member of The New Orleans Banjos and the Grateful Living banjo groups for 30 years, with whom he could be found performing frequently throughout the New Orleans area. Avery and Marietta were members of Trinity Episcopal Church and the Southern Yacht Club. Avery will be interred in Lake Lawn Cemetery. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, a memorial service will be held at a later date.
Published in The Times-Picayune from Apr. 17 to Apr. 19, 2020.
