Karen Susan Storts Avery
WEST DOVER - Karen Susan Storts Avery, 76, died at her home on May 12, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. As in life, she was surrounded by love in her final moments, with her devoted husband, Bruce, and beloved Samoyed, Cloud, by her side.
Born on May 27, 1949 to Merrill and Mary Storts, Karen grew up in Lexington, MA, where her adventurous spirit and competitive drive emerged early. She began swimming competitively at age eight with the Lexington Swim Club at Hayden Recreation Center and, by 15, had won the New England Championship. She also played field hockey for Lexington High School.
Losing both of her parents as a late teenager shaped Karen in quiet but profound ways, instilling in her a resilience and appreciation for life that never left her. After graduating high school, Karen attended the Katharine Gibbs School in Boston before beginning a long and accomplished 42-year career, traveling the globe as a flight attendant. She loved the opportunity to experience the cultures of the world firsthand during a time when air travel carried a sense of elegance and adventure. This also gave her a chance to spend time headquartered in Los Angeles and New York working for Northeast Airlines, later acquired by Delta Air Lines. Her work allowed her to tour the globe during the 1990s and 2000s, traveling to Russia, South Africa, Japan, Turkey, France, India, England, Hawaii, and others— experiences she cherished and loved sharing with friends in Vermont.
Karen was introduced to Bruce Avery by her high school friend, Louise McDevitt, on a double date mountain bike ride. The two quickly took to one another and built a life grounded in love, partnership, and adventure. They married in 1986, the same year Bruce built their family home on Moss Rock Road, where they created decades of memories together and welcomed their beloved son, Kyle.
Wherever Karen lived, she brought a bright smile, energy, and kindness to those around her. In the Deerfield Valley, she became deeply involved with the Rotary Club, serving as secretary, helping organize scholarships, fundraising efforts, the annual Blueberry Parade, and countless community activities. She was someone who genuinely loved the Valley and all its characters.
Karen embraced life fully. She loved skiing (and snowboarding) at Mount Snow— and was often happiest riding through the rolling hills of Vermont with Bruce on the back of his BMW motorcycle. She had a special love for all animals, especially her Samoyeds, and took great joy in the hummingbirds, flowers, and gardens that surrounded her home. Friends and family will remember her beautiful smile, tenacity, and adventurous spirit.
Above all else, Karen loved her family. She leaves behind her devoted husband, Bruce; her son, Kyle, and his wife, Daley; and a wide circle of lifelong friends and loved ones who will miss her dearly.
A service of remembrance will be held on Wednesday, June 10, at 11 am, at Our Lady of Fatima Church, 96 East Main Street, Wilmington. A gathering at the Dover Town Hall, 189 Taft Brook Rd, East Dover will follow.
In lieu of flowers, those who wish to make a gift in remembrance of Karen may donate to the Deerfield Valley Rotary Scholarship Fund, PO Box 542, West Dover, VT, 05356 or to the Dartmouth Pancreatic Cancer Research: send checks to Medical & Healthcare Advancement, Dartmouth Health, One Medical Center Drive (HB 7070), Lebanon, NH, 03756, payable to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health. Note on check that the gift is for Pancreatic Cancer Research in memory of Karen Avery.
