Sandra Mullis Avery
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Sandra Mullis Avery, cherished wife, mother, educator and musician, passed away peacefully on August 12, 2025, at the age of 73. Born on March 14, 1952, in Charlotte, North Carolina, she spent the majority of her life in the Queen City before moving to Excelsior Springs, Missouri, where she made her home in recent years.
Sandra’s early career included service with Billy Graham Ministries, after which she devoted decades to sharing her love of music and faith. A gifted violinist, she taught countless children at her Southern Baptist church in North Carolina, instilling in them not only technique but a passion for the strings.
An ardent animal lover, Sandra pampered her feline companions—Chookie, Baby and, most recently, Simon. She missed them dearly when they passed and cherished the memory that Simon would join her in her final resting place. She found delight in the wild grace of bison roaming near home and never tired of spotting them on visits to her husband in the nursing facility.
Music filled her heart, especially the harmonies of The Carpenters, the warmth of John Denver’s voice and the soaring melodies of Air Supply. On land and sea, she savored the gentle waves and turquoise waters of Panama City Beach and the bustling boardwalk of Myrtle Beach, with its beloved Gay Dolphin shop. Family vacations to the Carolina coast remain some of her happiest memories.
In her garden, Sandra’s green thumb flourished. Vibrant flowers lined her beds and a thriving vegetable patch yielded tomatoes she proudly shared. Her kitchen was fragrant with “Mulligan stew,” the sweet aroma of Krispy Kreme doughnuts and the sizzle of a Texas Roadhouse steak. Yet nothing made her smile quite like the K&W Cafeteria buffet at Myrtle Beach.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Geneva Hope; her father, Wade Mullis; her sister, Annette Waldrop; and her brother, Wayne Mullis. Sandra is survived by her devoted husband of fifty years, Joe Avery; her son, Tommy Avery; and her brother, James Mullis.
Visitation and funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 23, at Heartland Cremation & Burial, 6113 Blue Ridge Blvd, Raytown, Missouri 64133. Visitation is scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., with the funeral service immediately following from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. A graveside service will take place on Tuesday, August 26, at 11:00 a.m. at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery, 20109 Bus. MO-13, Higginsville, Missouri 64037. Family and friends who wish to honor Sandra’s memory are welcome to attend in person or online by the following link: SANDRA AVERY FUNERAL SERVICE.
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> I am so saddened, and heartbroken at the passing of Sandra. We were very
> close cousins, and communicated on email, and my sister communicated
> with her, too, and is brokenhearted. We loved her very much, and she was
> one of a kind. All of her cousins, and other family members loved her that
> knew her. She could play the violin so well, and blessed people with her gift.
> I loved hearing from her so much, and miss her regular emails. She was just
> such a sweet, and caring person. She loved the Lord, and gospel songs
> that I shared with her. She loved NC, her church, and friends in Belmont, NC
> where she lived for so long, but was grateful to her beloved son for letting her
> live with him in Missouri. She will be, and is sorely missed. My family loved
> her, and our thoughts, and prayers are with the family, and may God comfort
> them as only He can.