Kathleen was born in Rochester, NH, on March 31, 1952, to Lillian (Rising) and Roger Emerson Shorey. She was raised in York, ME, where she graduated from York High School as salutatorian. She then graduated from Bates College with a degree in psychology. She met David Erwin Avery at Pilgrim Lodge, where they both served as councilors. They were married on July 18, 1976, in the First Parish Church UCC of York. She moved into the parsonage of the First Congregational UCC Church of Eliot, where David served as minister. Kathy sang in the choir, participated in the women's groups, and led the youth group. There, they raised two daughters, Jennifer and Julie, and hosted Alberto from the Canary Islands for a year. Kathy served for a few years as the director of volunteers at York Hospital. She earned her master's degree from UNH and carried the banner for the Graduate School at graduation. She taught first grade at Eliot Elementary School for 23 years. She moved with David to their "house of dreams" in Freedom, NH, in 2006. After retirement, she continued to sing in the First Christian Church choir. She had many adventures abroad with her family, including to Mexico, Spain, Bulgaria, China, and Germany. Soon after she retired, her health began to decline, but "Gran" (as her grandchildren called her) never lost her love of singing—especially leading grace before meals, singing "Now I Lay Me" with her grandkids at bedtime, and lifting her voice for "This Little Light of Mine." She also found joy reading to her grandchildren and rocking them on her lap. Kathleen died onApril 10, 2026, after living with frontal lobe dementia for many years.

Kathleen leaves behind her husband of 50 years, David Avery; her daughter, Jennifer, and son-in-law, Thach Pham, their children, Nathan Minh, Maria Mai, Sara Vy, and Andrew Thao; her daughter, Julie, and her son-in-law, Hong Ung, and their children, Silas and Jinglei. Kathy also leaves behind her siblings—John Shorey, Sharon Munsey, Susan O'Brien, and Christine Niemeyer.

A memorial service will be held at the First Christian Church of Freedom, 12 Elm St, Freedom, NH 03836, on Saturday, May 2nd,at 1pm and also on Zoom. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the First Christian Church of Freedom, P.O. Box 502, Freedom, NH 03836, or atwww.firstchristianchurchoffreedom.org . Interment will take place at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Eliot, ME, at a later date.