Artis Avery, Jr, 79, of Freeport, IL, passed away on November 14, 2025 at the VA Hospital in Madison, WI. He was born on September 30, 1946 in Cleveland, OH, to Artis Avery, Sr and Carrie Etta Avery (Womack). He graduated from Highland Community College with a degree in Liberal Arts. He married Maria T. Reyes in Cleveland, OH.

Survivors include his wife Maria T. Avery, daughter Maria T. Avery II, son Artis Avery III, son Daniel Avery, granddaughter Myleka Avery, sister Shirley Clark, and sister Gwen Avery-Ezell.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, brother Bruce Avery, and son-in-law Richard W. Kraft

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday November 25, 2025, at 4:30 PM, at East Gate Christian Center, 1650 S. Armstrong Ave in Freeport, IL.