Durwood Porter Avery, lifetime learner, athlete and optimistic fan of humanity lived for over 85 years of mornings, afternoons, evenings and nights. He did not take a day for granted and lived a life of wonder and purpose. He passed away at his home in Troy Alabama on July 12, 2026, surrounded by family. They spent those moments listening to 50’s Doo-Wop music and singing his favorite hymns in addition to retelling his stories of deck watch in the Carribean, bike rides with his kids & grandkids and hiking in California.
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| High School Sweethearts: Durby & Dee |
Friends and family remember “Durby.’ “Uncle Durby,” or “Grandpa Durby" as having a smile and a twinkle in his eye to share with whoever crossed his path. His enthusiasm, positivity, and curiosity were a constant animating force in a life of kindness, happiness and inquisitiveness.
After their marriage, they set sail for Charleston, South Carolina and the U.S. Navy. Durwood proudly was a member of the U.S. Navy Reserve for his final two years of high school before that. Then it was on to Africa, South America, the Caribbean and an on-deck view of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Durwood and Delores raised their children in Fort Meade, Florida where they built a life of community, service, joy and love. He worked for 43 years in the phosphate industry and loved to say he was a part of the green revolution that significantly decreased global malnutrition & hunger.
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| Gasparilla 15K. Tampa, FL. 1996 |
At the age of 41, he returned to running as dedicated as he was when he ran track and played football at Auburndale High School. He began to enter triathlons and ran, biked and swam for the next few decades. He inspired so many with his devoted and intense training. He loved to share how his sport helped him in so many aspects of his life. He cherished his athletic comeback story and how it enriched his life with an always growing running and triathlon community.
He used to say, “make sure you tell them someday that I was ranked 13th in the state of Florida in my age category.”
Durwood’s academic pursuits were just as dedicated. He was a card-carrying citizen of the Cosmos. He was interested in astronomy, paleoanthropology, geology as well as politics and economics. His notebooks, laptops and random slips of paper with new information or new YouTube experts were always in use. He loved to say that mankind found its way when it became aware of our ignorance. Or as Niccolo Machiavelli said, “A sign of intelligence is an awareness of one’s own ignorance.”
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| Sweethearts moved to Troy, AL in 2022 |
Durwood leaves behind his wife Delores. They were married for 65 years. Also his son, David (and wife Karen Messick Avery) of Vacaville, California. His daughter Diana Avery (and husband Jerry Slayton) of Troy, Alabama. His three grandsons are Kyle Avery of Chicago, Illinois, Ethan Montgomery of Montgomery, Alabama and Taylor Montgomery of New York City, New York.
Durwood and Delores were members of the First United Methodist Church of Fort Meade, Florida for many years prior to their move to Troy Alabama in 2022. There they attended Troy Church near the University's campus.
The family will have a private celebration of the life of “Durby” where they will play his favorite music, and share their stories of a life so very well lived--while laughing, with some tears, and remembering everything that made him so special.
The family asks that friends of Durwood consider giving to the Hospice Angels Foundation, in affiliation with Compassus Living Foundation, to support their efforts in assisting families of terminally ill patients. On-line donations at HospiceAngels.org or CompassusLivingFoundation.org. Donations may also be made to the Hospice Angels Foundation or Compassus Living Foundation at 3193 Boardwalk Dr., P.O. Box 5197, Saginaw, MI 48603.
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| Durwood at "Mother Boulder"- Vacaville, CA |
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| Signature Durby pose-- Lake Tahoe |
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