Carrol Lee Aery, Sr., “C.L.”, 74, of Canyon, passed away on February 19, 2022.
Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 23, 2022, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Church, 8400 Hunsley Rd, Canyon, Texas.
C.L. was born July 10, 1947, in Denton, Texas, to James Edward and Dorothy Lee (Tillerson) Aery.
He grew up in Vidor, Texas where he graduated from Vidor High School in 1965.
He began his music education at Lamar University and left to join the Navy because of the VietNam War. He was a Navy Yoeman on the Admiral staff for the 5th Fleet from 1968 – 1972 then an Avionics Specialist from 1973 to 1982 until he left for the Reserves so he could be closer to his father who was ill. During that time he married Linda Lee Huffstetler and together they raised five children. He used his background from the Navy and worked various jobs in electronics. He loved the outdoors and served as a Boy Scout leader during his sons’ time in scouts.
C.L. went back to school to complete his music education, which was his first love. While back in school he met and married Shirley Duncan Aery. He graduated and became a band teacher for some of the local secondary schools and was a gifted music teacher. Later, they relocated to Louisiana for him to work at the NASA Michoud facility as a QC. After which they moved to West Texas where he worked as a flight director with the Aerostat System for Lockheed Martin. This job opened a door for him to serve his country again during the Afghanistan war efforts as a civilian contractor. His love for music brought him full circle after his service by playing in the Jazz and Mariachi bands out in west Texas and tutoring music students. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints until his health declined.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James Edward and Dorothy Lee Aery.
C.L. is survived by his wife, Shirley Aery of Amarillo, Texas; his daughters, Amy Hoffman, and her husband, Charles, of Pearland, Texas, Chanda Aery Willemin and her husband, Terry, of Blacksburg, Virginia, Cristen Aery Leleaux and her husband Horace, of Moss Bluff, Louisiana, and Casey Aery Horton and her husband, Scott, of Boise, Idaho; his sons, Carrol (Lee) Aery Jr, and Christopher (Chris) Aery, both of Groves Texas; 16 grandchildren; four great-granddaughters; two sisters, Terry Aery Tuttle of Ohio, and Audrey Aery Neie, and a brother, Bradford Aery, of Vidor, Texas.
C.L.’s service will be streamed via ZOOM. This is the link:
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C.L. Is my big brother, 6 years older. Grew up together and he loved his music and animals. He was helpful, teaching me how to polish my sidesaddle shoes,or how to unclog my sinuses. All this when I was 6 or 8. When he was older, and in high school, he would work for a dust cropper company. He would ask me to polish his band shoes,since he didn’t have time and had a concert or it was a football game that night. When he was a senior he would turn his ring around and tap me on the head. He would take-up for me on the school bus when I started school, if there were bullies,and there were. It was left up to C.L. and me who washed or dried the dishes at night. He always got to wash, I had to dry and put away. All while standing on a chair. He had an old jeep in high school, with no floor board,on the passenger side, when he bought it. He would let me ride with him around Vidor,at times. But, when he saw girls he went to school with, I had to duck down,LOL. When in high school he was in the school band, when he graduated, he had earned The John Phillip Sousa music award.
We didn’t have a t.v. Or a phone in the 50’s. So we walked to our grandmothers house down the path,through the woods,to watch t.v. on Saturday mornings or at night for Gunsmoke, Rawhide, Red Skeleton. He amazed me with his knowledge of math, trigonometry,calculus.
He was a good brother and son. He will be missed. ♥️
CL was one of my first Facebook friends and I just loved his vitality, his love for life and his wife Shirley. The world lost a wonderful man when he was called home. I miss my friend.
I only saw CL twice, at family reunions. He and I instantly “clicked” and talked for quite a while. Definitely one of the smartest people I ever met. We talked about our military experiences, his music, his family, etc. He was a good man.
CL was my cousin, we never saw each other much but my brother and I always felt close despite the distance. We went to visit CL and Shirley 6 years and it was the first time we saw each other since we were teenagers.!! I loved him very much, He was a gracious man that truly loved his family. So long CL and let your spirit light shines bright. Until we meet again……
I loved hearing his stories about music, especially about teaching students. I always left a visit with him feeling happier and lighter than when I arrived. He will be missed!
Goodbye old friend and brother.
A friendship that starts when you are very young (grade school) and you both become a part of each other’s family last forever. In fact, my father new his father when they were in school. That’s life in a small town. During high school and college years we spent a lot of time (nights and weekends) working on cars (mainly because we broke them), dreaming of racing and talking about girls. Speaking of girls we went on a double date my date was Linda I cannot remember CL’s date. A long story short Linda decided on CL. Two guys being attracted to the same girl would have destroyed a normal friendship. But I was best man at their wedding. By the time of their wedding, I had met Mary the true love of my life for 51years. All four of us became close friends. Then as life happens kids and work we drifted apart but were ever completely out of mind. Two things I remember most about CL were his musical talent (I think he could pick up any instrument and be playing it without any effort) and he was a hard worker he seemed to always have a job and often two.
I wished we could have talked one more time. Goodbye until I see you again.
Mr Aery has been a resident at Amarillo Center for Skilled Care since 2019 – He will be missed by staff and residents. Our prayers go out to the family and friends.
I am so sorry we not able to attend in person, it was so wonderful to see his service through zoom, stories were one of CLs specialties, especially humorous tales of working on cars , family life and work, he will be missed, he was always so happy, we live and miss you CL