Avery Eliot Newton

GARDNER - Avery Eliot Newton born May 8, 1929 in New Salem, MA (village of Millington), passed away on December 10, 2018 in Athol, MA. He was a resident of Gardner for most of his life. He was a fire and train buff, liked boats of all kinds, and especially enjoyed a cruise to Alaska. He loved to share his hand-stitched yarn pins and meeting friends for coffee. His favorite vacations were near the shores of Martha’s Vineyard; Weld, ME; and Sea Isle City, NJ. Avery was employed as a foreman by the city of Gardner Water Department & was a Call Captain for the Gardner Fire Department, serving both for 46 years ; and after retiring he worked part-time for Stop & Shop for 10 years. He was a member of the Masons at Hope Lodge for 56 years and a DeMolay Dad Advisor. Avery was a past president of the Worcester West Forest Wardens Association, member of the Napoleon Club, the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars, and the Simplex Drum & Bugle Corps as a flag bearer. His wife--and love of his life of 68 years--was Betsy (Hodgman) Newton. He was the son of Fay (Hemenway) Newton and Rieta (Ballard Sawtell) Newton. His loving family members are: sister Thelma Neuvonen (deceased), brothers Lyle, Merl, & Wayne Newton. Children, spouses, and their grandchildren: Floyd, Margit, Christian, & Brandon Newton of Gardner; Joanne, Eric, (of Pittsburgh, PA) Ari, & Austen Beckman; Avery Fay Newton & Lisa Szymakowski (of Templeton); and Ginny Newton, Steve Lorenz, (of Erving) Jordan & Duncan Newton-Gaines. Funeral services with full Military Honors will be held Friday, December 14, 2018 at 11am in the Mack Family Funeral Home 105 Central St., Gardner. Burial will be at Green Bower Cemetery in the spring. Visiting hours will be Thursday, December 13, 2018 at 5 to 7pm in the funeral home with a Masonic service at 6:45pm. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children at shrinershospitalsforchildren.org. Please reference in memory of Avery Newton. To send an online condolence please visit www.mackfamilyfh.com. Mack Family Funeral Home 105 Central St., Gardner is directing arrangements.