Avory Johnson Jr, 83, died August 22, 2013, at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. He was born December 2, 1929, in Wichita, to Avory E. and Rutha LaVerne Johnson. He graduated from Arkansas City High School in 1947. On September 4, 1948, he married Lois Ann Koestle in Wellington. Avory served in the United States Air Force from 1951 to 1954, in Korea and Texas, where he was an instructor and jet aircraft mechanic.

He volunteered at the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center for 19 years and at the Salvation Army. He also helped restore the Liberty Bell 7. Avory was a member of the Vintage Thunderbird Club and was past president of the Wichita Classic Thunderbird Club, both in Wichita.

He was the owner of AVS Camper Center for 36 years, retiring in June 1997.

Survivors include: his wife Lois Johnson of the home in Nickerson; two daughters, Sherri R. Brown and husband Bob, Arlington, and Lori Stiles and husband Alan, Lee's Summit, MO; five granddaughters, Michelle Fountain and her friend Cody Harmor, Wichita, Lucy Stiles, Lake City, TN, Angie Dreckmeier and husband Terry, Peculiar, MO, Jessica Neese and husband Jason, Overland Park, and Karey Wolstenholm and husband Rick, Collierville ,TN; six great-grandchildren, Wyatt, Lucy and Owen Wolstenholm, Hadley, Hudson and Josie Neese; brother, Stanley D. Johnson and wife Dorothy, San Marino, CA; two nieces; and several cousins.

Cremation has taken place. Celebration of Life will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, September 14, 2013, at the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center, with the family to receive friends immediately following until 4 p.m. Friends may sign the book at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army of Hutchinson, or the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 North Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.