Stephen Morehouse Avery was born in Webster
Grove, Missouri, the middle of three sons born to Charles M. and Jessie
Avery. Both his parents were native Missourians and had married in
1890. Stephen's father supported his family working as a cashier at a
local office of a life insurance company.
Avery attended the University of Missouri and later worked for the
Hyatt Roller Bearing Company in Detroit before embarking on his writing
career. In time Avery became a prolific contributor of short stories to
a number of popular magazines and newspapers of that time. In 1933
Hollywood beckoned and in a short while he became known as a successful
scenario writer.
During the Second World War Avery served with the US Army Air Corp as
an intelligence officer and was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries
sustained while stationed in North Africa
Stephen Morehouse Avery died of a heart attack on 10 February, 1948, at
his Los Angeles apartment. He was survived by his wife Marian and
daughter
Phyllis Avery.