She met her husband, Jimmy, at a small diner near the Skyway Bridge. He was a regular who always seemed to sit in her section. They were married for 44 years before he passed. Jim and Audrey shared a joy of travel in their motorhome and were founding members of the TeePee Warriors CB club. Their handles were Ragman and Ragmop. Both were avid bowlers and excelled at it.
They loved their daughters, Dodie and Darla and granddaughters, Amy and Ashley. Though Audrey was frugal by nature, she always made sure that what she did for one daughter, she did for the other. However, spoiling her granddaughters, and eventually her great-grandson, Ryan became the norm. She had a deep respect for holidays and reunions with her extended family.
She was sentimental and kept letters, including love letters Jim sent her from Saudi, childhood drawings, and gifts from her girls. This expanded to stories behind many of her depression glass collection detailing which relative it had belonged to or when Jim had given it to her.
Audrey worked at Winn Dixie for over 30 years both as a cashier and Front-End Service Manager. She even sewed clown costumes and learned to make balloon animals for special events there. Her creativity also included ceramics, crocheting and cake decorating. Her favorite pastime in her later years was bingo. She would arrive 2 hours before it began so she could save seats for her friends and play cards until it was time to start.
She was a loyal friend. Even though she moved to Florida after graduating high school, Kansas was embedded in her heart. She has stayed in contact with her school mates throughout her life and relished going back there for reunions. The friendships she made as an adult were also dear to her and stood the test of time.
Audrey is survived by her daughters, Dodie Barger and Darla Lonergan; granddaughters, Amy Wethington and Ashley Nicole; great-grandson, Ryan Wethington; brother, Ronald Gunn and many cherished nieces and nephews. All of these she loved and touched deeply. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; grandson, TJ Lonergan and brother Robert Gunn.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Suncoast Hospice.
Arrangements were made under the direction of Garden Sanctuary Funeral Home 7950 131st Street N.
Seminole, FL 33776 / 727-391-0121.
