Pearl Harbor veteran laid to rest — PHOTOS

By KEITH ROGERS LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

10 years ago

At the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial cemetery, the Rev. Leo Wood delivers the eulogy during services for Willis Avery at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery Friday May 29, 2015. Avery, who died May 13, was one of the few remaining local survivors of the Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. (Steve Andrascik/Las Vegas Review Journal)

Duncan Stark sings "Amazing Grace" during services for Willis Avery Friday May 29, 2015 at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetry, Boulder City. Avery, who died May 13, was one of the few remaining local survivors of the Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. (Steve Andrascik/Las Vegas Review Journal)

Gary Cordell, foreground, and Larry Ransom play echo taps during services for Willis Avery Friday May 29, 2015 at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetry, Boulder City. Avery, who died May 13, was one of the few remaining local survivors of the Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. (Steve Andrascik/Las Vegas Review Journal)

U.S. Navy Lt. Kevin Samuels presents the flag to U.S. Navy Lt. Timothy Avery during services for his grandfather, Willis Avery, on Friday May 29, 2015 at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetry, Boulder City. Willis Avery, who died May 13, was one of the few remaining local survivors of the Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. (Steve Andrascik/Las Vegas Review Journal) Steve Andrascik/Las Vegas Review Journal

U.S. Navy Lt. Timothy Avery renders a last salute to his grandfather, Willis Avery during services Friday, May 29, 2015 at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetry, Boulder City. Avery, who died May 13, was one of the few remaining local survivors of the Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. (Steve Andrascik/Las Vegas Review Journal)

Sandy Sanders, daughter of the late Willis Avery wipes away a tear as she talks about her father during services for him at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery Friday, May 29, 2015. Avery, who died May 13, was one of the few remaining local survivors of the Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. (Steve Andrascik/Las Vegas Review Journal)

Sandy Sanders, daughter of the late Willis Avery tosses a rose on his casket during services for him Friday, May 29, 2015, at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetry, Boulder City. Avery, who died May 13, was one of the few remaining local survivors of the Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. (Steve Andrascik/Las Vegas Review Journal)

Willis Avery, one of the last of a few remaining local Pearl Harbor veterans, is remembered at a funeral service 10:40 a.m. Friday at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City.

Avery, who died May 13 at 93, was a sailor on the hospital ship, the USS Solace, on Dec. 7, 1941. He scrambled to get the wounded into lifeboats before the USS Arizona sunk during the raid by Japanese warplanes on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

He is survived by son, Bill Avery of Boulder City, and daughter, Sandra Sanders, of El Dorado Hills, Calif. He also leaves four grandsons and and two great granddaughters.

Ed Hall, an Army veteran and survivor of the Pearl Harbor attack is expected to attend.

A special touch at the service will be the performance of echo taps by Larry Ransom and the Trumpeters Alliance to Perform Patriotic Services, a nonprofit group that performs at some military funerals at no cost to the family.