Margaret Mary "Margie" McAvoy

McAVOY, Margaret Mary “Margie”
Age 86, of Centerville, passed away at Hospice of Dayton on Monday, June 20, 2022 with her family at her side. Margie was born August 3, 1935, the youngest of six children of the late Lee and Margaret Fischer Butler. She was preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, Jerome B. McAvoy. She is survived by her children Tim McAvoy of Tucson AZ, Lynda (Tom) Couture of Vail AZ, Mike (Christie) McAvoy of Bluffton IN, Terry McAvoy of Centerville OH, Maureen (Brian Elliott) McAvoy of San Francisco CA, and Kevin (Cheyanne Sauter) McAvoy of Los Angeles CA; and her grandchildren Erin, Sean, and Kelly McAvoy, Keily, John and Kerry Couture, and Connor and Riley Elliott.

A lifelong Dayton area resident, Margie attended the former Julienne High School and graduated from the University of Dayton (UD) in 1957, where she was a member of the original Flyerettes. An ardent UD sports fan, Margie was a season ticket holder for many years and closely followed UD basketball her entire life. She worked at UD in the Adult Education office for many years before turning her passion for art into a full-time career. Her vision and energy were instrumental to the successful opening of the co-op Town and Country Fine Art Gallery in Kettering in 1995 where she served as its inaugural president. A prolific painter, her pieces have been displayed in various Miami Valley venues and many now reside across the United States.

Margie enjoyed traveling the U.S. and abroad, and especially touring Ireland with her Irish Group. She was a talented seamstress, an avid reader and a dedicated physical fitness buff – whether walking, running, playing golf, playing tennis, snorkeling, swimming or working out at the gym, she was happiest when she was moving.

The last 17 years she roomed with her son Terry; the last 7 years they lived in their treasured cottage at St Leonard. They took good care of each other, and Margie and Terry enjoyed their time together dining out, watching movies, going to the gym, hosting family members, and talking and laughing about everything.

Margie was most passionate about her family and took great care to keep in touch with her children and grandchildren spread across the country. She was a friend to everyone she met and had cherished connections going back more than 70 years. Margie will be deeply missed; but she has left a tremendous legacy of kindness and love that will live on. A Catholic Mass will be held at St. Leonard’s Chapel on Saturday, July 23, 2022 at 11:00 am. A Celebration of Margie’s Life will be held at St. Leonard’s Franciscan Center immediately following Mass. She will be interred with her husband and other family members at Calvary Cemetery. Donations in her memory can be made to her favorite charities, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and Hospice of Dayton.