Avery J. Gabbard, 85 of Connersville passed away on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. He was born on December 29, 1936 in Jackson County, Kentucky to the late Harlen Gabbard and Lizzie Ellen Rose Gabbard.

On June 2, 1956 he married the love of his life Sue Wathen in Connersville. Together they had 2 children, Charles and Sandra.

Avery was a member of Garrison Creek Baptist Church in Connersville. He was very active in the church and he had volunteered his time in helping build the church.

Avery was self employed, he was a general contractor where he built pole barns in the surrounding counties. Most of all he was a farmer, he moved to his farm in 1968 where he worked every day.

When he wasn’t on a tractor or working on the farm, you could find his with a bass guitar playing and singing blue grass music. For some time, him and a group of gentlemen would play throughout the Tri-State area. He was always willing to help his friends and neighbors out in any way he could. He cherished the time spent with his family.

Along with his loving wife of 66 years, he will be greatly missed by his daughter, Sandra Lemen; granddaughter, Averill (Randall) Lemen Mains; great grandchildren, Aubrey Mains and Aiden Mains; a brother, Dale (Shirley) Gabbard; and sisters, Agnes Faber and Emma Lee (William) Keen.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his son, Charles Avery Gabbard; and sisters, Freda Gabbard and Imogene Lakes.

Visitation for Avery will be held on Tuesday, August 2, 2022 from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Urban Winkler Funeral Home, 513 W. 8th St., Connersville, Indiana 47331. The funeral service will be on Wednesday at 11:00 am at the funeral home with Pastor Tim Flutey of Garrison Creek Church officiating.

In Lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Fayette County Animal Shelter or the Humane Society. Those can be made at the funeral home.