Avery Gene Coley, age 70, of 26423 Wayne Drive, Albemarle, NC, passed away on Thursday, March 10th, 2011 at Stanly Regional Medical Center.  His funeral will be on Monday, March 14th, 2011 at 2 PM at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Norwood, NC and his family will receive friends from 1 PM to 2 PM just prior to the hour of service.  Rev. Lowell Brown will officiate and burial will be in Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery.

born October 16th, 1940 in Stanly County, NC, Mr. Coley was the son of the late Dexter W. and Mezzie Burris Coley and was educated at Aquadale Schools.  He was a retired employee of E.J. Snyder and a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church. 

He is survived by his wife, Brenda Melton Coley; one son, Jeffery Gene Coley of Albemarle, NC; two daughters, Frankie Gale Coley of Hamlet, NC and Melody Coley Huneycutt of Oakboro, NC; two step-sons, Curtis Timothy Melton of Stanfield, NC and Henery Todd Melton of Stanfield, NC; one step-daughter, Tammy Melton Marks of Oakboro, NC; one brother, Dexter Dulin Coley of Albemarle, NC; three sisters: Evelyn Steen of Oakboro, NC, Margie Efird of Norwood, NC, and Linda Parker of Albemarle, NC; seven grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by one daughter, Loritta Coley Leigh; four brothers: William Henry Coley, John B. Coley, James Ivey Coley, and Gary Lane Coley; and two sisters, Edyce Hartsell and Glayds Smith.