Audrey Marie Irish

Audrey Irish was born on September 11, 1924 in Elsie, Michigan, daughter of Hattie and Delbert Scofield. She had two sisters, Eleanor and Gwendolyn, and one brother, Harris. She married Arvin Irish of Greenville, Michigan on February 13, 1944 and celebrated more than 56 years of marriage before his death in April, 2000. Audrey enjoyed a career in retail sales and spent many years with the Colony House in Greenville, Michigan. She had an eye for decorating and loved those she worked for and with. Audrey and Arvin were life members of the United Methodist Church in Greenville. She enjoyed antiquing with Arvin, travelling and camping and spent many summers combing Lake Superior shores for the beloved and elusive agates. These excursions were shared with her sisters and their husbands and lifetime friends-Alma and Lefty Foster. In 1979, Audrey and Arvin travelled to England to attend and reunite with Arvin’s 8th Air Force B24 Squadron. A journey which they planned and enjoyed as it provided reconnection with other crew members and families that Arvin served with and Audrey knew during WWII. Audrey appreciated the natural world and all life that it contains. She was pre-ceded in death by her infant son, Kurt in 1950; husband, Arvin in 2000; son, Patrick in 2009; and son-in-law Craig in 2014. She is survived by daughter, Jill Lapham, grandson Kirk (Kim) Lapham, great grandsons Grant Alan, Blake Robert and Wesley Irish Lapham; granddaughter Kaitlin(Bryan) Grate, great granddaughter Molly, great grandson Stanley; and granddaughter Shannon (Ryan) La. Also, very special and dearly loved nieces Joedy (Ray Collins) Packard, Rhonda Packard, Sandy (Mike) Gould, Gayla (John) LaLonde, Gwen (Joel) Wesson, Bill (Cathy) Thatcher, Bonnie Thatcher: and Jan Jones, Annette Hornsby, and Cathy Cushman. Audrey was home with Brookdale of Meridian assisted living for 3 years; they became her community and family and she enjoyed and loved all of them. Hospice of Lansing – Stoneleigh Residence provided much love and care for Audrey. Her caregivers became close friends and “family” that she shared life and stories with; she also had fun, and gave much affection to her cherished Hospice feline – named Leigh. A memorial service will be held at the Greenville United Methodist Church in May 2018 and interment with Arvin will be at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Battle Creek, MI. Those wishing to honor her memory may choose to donate to: Hospice of Lansing, Stoneleigh Residence 3186 Pine Tree Road, Lansing, MI 48911