Audrey Jean Lansdowne King

September 6, 1930 – May 7, 2013

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Audrey Jean King (nee Lansdowne) on May 7, 2013 at the age of 82 with her devoted husband Dave by her side. They were married for 61 years.

Audrey was born in Norwich, England on September 6, 1930 along with her twin brother, Geoffrey. The Lansdowne household, which included an older sister and a second set of younger twins, was kept hopping. Audrey was raised during World War II and met her husband through her brother. The two young men were colleagues, and when Geoff invited Dave to meet his family, Audrey was painting the kitchen, her hair covered with a paint-spattered scarf. The couple soon became inseparable. Engaged for five years, Audrey and Dave married in England on March 29th, 1952. They enjoyed a long honeymoon on the Isle of Mann and lived in Liverpool until an assignment from Canadian Pacific Steamships relocated them to Vancouver, where their children Laurie, Andrew and Steven were born. In 1964, the Kings came to Vernon, making their home in West Vernon and later moving to Okanagan Lake. Audrey worked as City Hall Executive Secretary for Mayors Mercier, Halina and Fleming, retiring in 1977. An avid athlete, her greatest passion was golf. Twice she participated in the B.C. Summer Games,

and she won various local tournaments as well as serving as Ladies Club Captain at the Vernon Golf and Country Club. Audrey also enjoyed tennis, bowling, skiing and bridge. She volunteered for the Vernon Winter Carnival for several years and held an honorary position with Beta Sigma Phi. Audrey and Dave traveled the world together, visiting her twin brother’s family in Australia as well as trips back to England. Their travels took them to Europe, South and North America, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico, New Zealand, and the South Sea Islands. In 1990, they moved to Hillview Meadows in Vernon, which allowed them to escape south for the winters. After exploring the Baja, Canada and the United States in their R.V., they settled in sunny Yuma, Arizona for six months of the year and returned to Vernon for the summers.

Audrey’s greatest loss in life was the death of her son Andrew in 1981. She was also predeceased by her sister Sheila, brother John, and several other family members and friends. Audrey leaves behind many cherished friends and family. Left to mourn are: her loving husband Dave; one daughter Laurie Postill (Brian) of Coldstream; one son Steven King (Cindy Procter-King) of Coldstream; two granddaughters, Linsey Johannson (Jamie) of Coldstream and Kristin Postill Webb (Heath Webb) of

Portland, Oregon; two grandsons, Andrew (A.J.) King (Raven Holland) of Shanghai, China and Benjamin King (Bianca Coad) of Kamloops; great grandsons Ty Johannson and Jack Webb; twin brother Geoffrey Lansdowne (Jean Pollard) of Australia; sister Kim Gaylard of Delta; numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

A special thank you to Doctors Botha, Harper and Kader, VJH 2 East and Hospice House for the attentive care provided to Audrey during her last days.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations may be made to Hospice House and the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation.

The Celebration of Life will be held at Pleasant Valley Funeral Home on Saturday, May 25th, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. with a reception to follow in the tea room.