Audrey Irene (Emrich) Watson, 94, passed away July 22, 2023 at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines following a brief illness. Visitation will be 10 a.m. Saturday, August 5, 2023 at McLaren’s Resthaven Chapel, 801 19th St. in West Des Moines, with the funeral services following at 11:00 a.m. at McLaren’s. Burial will follow the services at Resthaven Cemetery in West Des Moines.
Audrey was born September 9, 1928 to John O. and Amy G. (Grove) Emrich in Des Moines. She graduated from North High School in 1946.
Audrey married neighborhood boy, Paul L. Watson on November 16, 1946. They had four children together, Claudia (Bob) Bertrand-Phillips, Paula (Drew) Essen, Dean (Cathy) Watson and Peggy (Randy) Kellar. They settled in Urbandale where they raised their four children, then in 1986 they moved to Western Village mobile court in West Des Moines. Recently, Audrey moved to Cedar Ridge Village.
Audrey was very proud of her family, which grew to be quite large: 17 grand/step grandchildren (and 12 spouses/significant others), 33 great/step great-grandchildren (along with 7 spouses/significant others) and 8 great-great grandchildren. For those keeping track, that adds up to a current count of 77 grandchildren at the time of Audrey’s death. Whew…
She was an avid book reader, having read more than 1,050 books since January, 2017. She also enjoyed watching football, basketball and baseball, always rooting for the local Iowa teams and the Chicago Cubs. Audrey loved playing cards, Dominos and bingo with her many friends. As for some of those friends, she was the driver for “the girls” to various activities, as was her mother who lived to be 100 years old.
She was a lifetime member of the Order of Eastern Star of Des Moines (Heartland Chapter, formerly Acanthus Chapter) and also a worthy Past Matron, Urbandale Legion and Auxiliary, and West Des Moines Women’s Club. She was a former member and volunteer at the West Des Moines Christian Church and current member of Cedar Ridge non-denomination church.
Audrey retired as a realtor in the early 1990’s from Iowa Realty, and previously worked at Inman Realty, Montgomery Ward and a local printing company in Des Moines.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Paul; daughter, Paula; her parents, John and Amy, and sister, Gladys Darleen Thompson.
Memorial contributions can be made to the West Des Moines EMS Association or to the family for distribution.
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