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Avery Lawrence Bright, 87

| August 23, 2010 12:56 PM

Avery Lawrence Bright, 87, passed away at Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d'Alene, Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010. Avery was born in Mazeppa, Minn., on Oct. 29, 1922, to Harry and Flora (Gaskill) Bright.

He graduated from Mazeppa High School and entered the military in January 1943 in Milwaukee, Wisc. He trained as a technician at Electrical Engineering School in New York City. After training, he was stationed in Spokane, with the 931st Aviation Engineers who helped build Geiger Field. In July 1943, he was stationed in England where he helped build and repair airfields with the 922nd Aviation Engineer Headquarters and Service Center.

In 1944, he landed on Omaha Beach. He continued onto Germany with the 843rd Engineer Aviation Battalion. He moved with the 922nd Engineer Aviation Regiment to the 846th Engineer Aviation Battalion and the 395th Signal Company. He was discharged in 1945.

Following the war, Avery moved to Spokane where he was employed by Kaiser Aluminum at the Trentwood Plant. He moved to Post Falls the following year. He retired in 1982. While working for Kaiser, he also worked part-time for Pool Motors in Coeur d'Alene selling Studebakers. Most recently he resided at Loyalton Independent/Assisted Living in Coeur d'Alene.

Avery was active in the Cloverleaf Grange, Idaho State Grange, national Grange, Cloverleaf 4-H Club, Post Falls Historical Society, Veterans of Foreign Wars, East Greenacres Irrigation District and a founding member of the Post Falls Lions Club.

Avery is survived by his children, Ethel Bright of Lexington, Ky., Rita Dermody of Kent, Wash., Doris Bright of Post Falls, Judy Hernandez of Puyallup, Wash., Tom Bright of Tucson, Ariz., Eileen Bright of Post Falls and his sister, Helen Schlegal of Nampa. Avery is also survived by seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Flora; his wife, Lucille; his second wife, Ruth; his brother, Harry; his sister, Lucile Hammond; two half-sisters and four half-brothers.

Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010, at Yates Funeral Home, Hayden Chapel. Please visit Avery's online memorial and sign his guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.