Mr. Kenneth Allen Avant, 67, of Clewiston, Fla., formerly of Newton, died peacefully Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2008, in Fort Myers Hope Hospice Center, surrounded by his family.

Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008, at the First Baptist Church of Clewiston, Fla., with the Rev. Brian Hamrick officiating. Interment followed beside his first wife in Ridge Lawn Cemetery, directed by Akin-Davis Funeral Home of Clewiston, Fla.

Mr. Avant was born Feb. 22, 1940, in Newton. He graduated from Newton High School in 1958, and was employed at Fort Rucker. He later opened his own business, Avant's Gas and Mechanic Spur Station in Newton. Mr. Avant moved to Clewiston, Fla. in the late summer of 1968 and opened his own business, Avant's Auto Parts and Garage, where he worked almost 40 years until he retired recently because of his health.

Mr. Avant was preceded in death by his first wife, Joyce Thomley Avant in 1975, and his father, John Floyd Avant in 1985.

Survivors include his wife, Clarice Jane "CJ" Avant; sons, Kenneth Allen "Kenny" Avant Jr. and John Lester "Johnny" Avant; one granddaughter, Alyssa Avant; two step-daughters, Melissa "Dusty" McDuffie and Leah Smith; four step-grandchildren, Samuel, Nicholas, and Landon McDuffie, and Taylor S. May, all of Clewiston, Fla.; his mother, Louise Blackmon Avant of Newton; one brother and his wife, Travis and Ellen Avant of Tupelo, Miss.; and two sisters and their husbands, Mildred Avant and Jerry Grimes of Geneva, and Margarette Avant and Jimmy Grimes of Ozark. Several nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends also survive.

Kenneth will be remembered by his family and friends for his kindness, gentle nature, and his love for fishing and camping.

Mr. Kenneth Allen Avant, 67, of Clewiston, Fla., formerly of Newton, died peacefully Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2008, in Fort Myers Hope Hospice Center, surrounded by his family.

Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008, at the First Baptist Church of Clewiston, Fla., with the Rev. Brian Hamrick officiating. Interment followed beside his first wife in Ridge Lawn Cemetery, directed by Akin-Davis Funeral Home of Clewiston, Fla.

Mr. Avant was born Feb. 22, 1940, in Newton. He graduated from Newton High School in 1958, and was employed at Fort Rucker. He later opened his own business, Avant's Gas and Mechanic Spur Station in Newton. Mr. Avant moved to Clewiston, Fla. in the late summer of 1968 and opened his own business, Avant's Auto Parts and Garage, where he worked almost 40 years until he retired recently because of his health.

Mr. Avant was preceded in death by his first wife, Joyce Thomley Avant in 1975, and his father, John Floyd Avant in 1985.

Survivors include his wife, Clarice Jane "CJ" Avant; sons, Kenneth Allen "Kenny" Avant Jr. and John Lester "Johnny" Avant; one granddaughter, Alyssa Avant; two step-daughters, Melissa "Dusty" McDuffie and Leah Smith; four step-grandchildren, Samuel, Nicholas, and Landon McDuffie, and Taylor S. May, all of Clewiston, Fla.; his mother, Louise Blackmon Avant of Newton; one brother and his wife, Travis and Ellen Avant of Tupelo, Miss.; and two sisters and their husbands, Mildred Avant and Jerry Grimes of Geneva, and Margarette Avant and Jimmy Grimes of Ozark. Several nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends also survive.

Kenneth will be remembered by his family and friends for his kindness, gentle nature, and his love for fishing and camping.