Michael Earl Avery, 43, of Kountze, died Tuesday, January 13, 2015, at Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas, Beaumont. He was born on January 31, 1971, in Beaumont, to Doretha Sue Dowden Avery and Gordon Michael Avery. Mikey was a giant of a man with a giant heart. He was best known as “Balloon Mike” and beloved by the area children.

Survivors include his parents; sister, Libby Jordan and her husband, Tim, of Marshall; nephews, Ben Jordan, David Jordan, and Jacob Jordan; grandmothers, Bernice Dowden of Kountze and Mary Beard of Beaumont; cousin, Robbie Lee Rosati; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He is preceded in death by his grandfathers, Robert Dowden and Allison Bonner Avery; and uncle, Earl Dowden, his namesake.

A gathering of Mr. Avery’s family and friends will be 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Saturday, January 17, 2015, at Broussard’s, 530 West Monroe, Kountze. His funeral service will be 2:00 p.m., Sunday, January 18, 2015, at Broussard’s, with interment to follow at Antioch Cemetery, Buna

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.