Avery Elray Oxley of Sandy Utah, (known as “Reb”, short for Rebel from the deep south of Louisiana), passed away at, as he would say, “the ripe old age” of 86, in the comfort of his own home, surrounded by his loved ones, on February 17, 2024. He lost a short battle with a sudden and aggressive cancer.
He was born to John Henry and Cecile Augustine Oxley on October 18, 1937 and was raised on a small farm just outside of Winnfield, Louisiana. As a young boy he fished, hunted and played in the woods when not working on the farm.
At the age of 14, he began learning the trade of welding and fabricating at the Huey P. Long Memorial Trade School in Winnfield, spending 4 hours each day after school and 8 hours each day during the summer, until the age of 16. He joined the Louisiana National Guard at that time.
While visiting his cousin in Utah, at the age of 17, he was offered a job at Kennecott Copper and also met his bride, Barbara. So he decided to stay. He subsequently transferred to the Utah National Guard and finished his military service there.
Avery has always had an entrepreneurial spirit and at the age of 23, he went into business and Avery Oxley Welding & Fabricating was founded. In later years, his son Steve joined him in his business and the name changed to Oxley & Son Welding & Fabricating. Since then the tradition continues with his two grandsons, Jackson and Taylor, leaving a 3 generation legacy of business.
He was an avid outdoorsman and horseman and enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping and traveling. He was truly adventurous. One of his favorite activities was escaping the Utah winters in his RV, down in St. George and Laughlin Nevada, making fond memories with his sweetheart, Barbara. He also loved heading to the lake with his fishing buddies and meeting them at McDonalds almost every morning to socialize.
He always performed random acts of kindness and service to others and has a deep-rooted testimony of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the plan of salvation and eternal families. He is an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and served for many years in the Jordan River Temple.
His family was everything to him. He took a genuine interest in the lives of his wife, children, grandkids and great grandkids and formed bonding relationships with each. Whether it was in business, in the community or at church, people everywhere who met him, loved and respected him.
He is preceded in death by his parents John and Cecile, and is survived by his wife, Barbara, his children, Dan, Steve (Kim), Sherry Jeffries (Shane), Sandee Sosa (Andres), and his sisters, Glenna Benson and Doyleen Jensen (Dennis). He has 14 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.
He was a happy, positive, quick-witted man who will be sorely missed.
Funeral services will be on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at 11:00 AM at the Crescent Ward Meetinghouse (10945 South 1700 East, Sandy, UT). Interment will follow at the Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery (1950 East 10600 South, Sandy, UT). A viewing will be held on Friday, March 1, 2024 at the Larkin Sunset Gardens Mortuary from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, and prior to the funeral service from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM.
To watch the zoom recording of the service, please click on the tab above that says "Watch Service" or follow this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/5MGuzCHz92IWNSQaQSNHRs63vDielqUSe9TvdtAvcvytUMLFZIkBExu6qz7V4g7x.o6ZBp3zSU97zsExf?startTime=1709400853000
It was an honor to know Reb...his humor, his joy, his great hugs, his love for his family, and for my family! I will miss him "for now"...but what a reunion we'll have when we meet again! I love you all and pray that the comforter will carry you through this hard time.
In the short time we knew him, he seemed like a charming and very kind man, we will miss him very much. Mayorga family
Sorry for your loss Barbara. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family... love you uncle Reb. I have always held you in high esteem. RIP
Dear Barbara, I’m so sorry for your loss!
I rarely see you but know that I think about you often and that I love you ❤️
Our condolences to Barbara and her family. You are in our thoughts and our prayers!
-Tess, Shane, Hayleigh, Emma, Link and Jason
I am so sorry to see the loss of your father. Awesome man and you boys were the greatest. I’ve enjoyed knowing your family and appreciate the time we spent have spent together. Best wishes to all your family Sandra and Kevan.
Barbara I want you to know what a very special lady you are! You have touched my heart and my mothers heart in so many ways! What a special man Reb was! My father and mother both thought the world of him! My dad loved to go out fishing with Reb! We are praying and thinking of you at this very difficult time! We know how it feels since we went through this not very long ago! Try and keep your head up and smile your beautiful smile! You are very dear to us! Love Always. DRYLEE GOFF and LEANN GOFF DEMING
To remember uncle ElRay, for me, is to remember a smile that I never experienced leaving his face. “Happy” is the word I attach to him. And the funny phrases he would say just always made me laugh. One time I was full after we had eaten a big meal and he always offered more. When I said I couldn’t, he said, “well, stand back, open your mouth and get a running start at it”… never forgot the visual and it made me laugh.
Much love to my extended family.
Jan
My sincere condolences to Steve, Barbara and the entire Oxley family. During my high school years I spent many a pleasant afternoon at the Oxley household, joking and laughing with Steve, Dan, Barbara and Reb. I learned a lot about life and the workings of internal combustion engines from Reb. Reb was a wonderful man who always brought joy into a room when he entered. I am sad to know he is no longer with us.