Audrey Elaine Buck

A proud military wife, she toted her 3 children, Robert, Ross and Leah (Jenny) around the country and world, making a home wherever the United States Air Force asked her to. Whether Florida, Kansas, Germany, or ultimately, California, Audrey turned every house into a home and forged a community in every neighborhood. She loved to cook and would frequently make enough food for the entirety of the Allied Forces, ensuring GI’s stuck working on base during the holidays had a home cooked meal.

Anyone who stepped foot in her home was greeted by a four-legged feline. From Oliver to Bootsie (short for Puss in Boots from Shrek – one of her favorite movies) there was always a cat nestled somewhere near her feet. She would often say that Boots kept her “an awful lot of company” the last several years of her life. He also served as her personal security guard, swiftly attacking anyone who walked in the door.

Audrey’s home was also decorated with incredible pieces of artwork, most of which she painted herself. She took lessons in Germany where her natural talents quickly became apparent, so much so that the instructor asked her to take over the class while he was away. A voracious reader, her home was always covered in books; her signature star on the inside cover noting she had already read it after one too many “I think I’ve read this already” around page 150. Hard to blame her for losing track, though, as she would often devour several in a single week.

You were never cold in Audrey’s house. Within reach was a quilt (or five), all handmade with love and the creative eye that developed those paintings. She even traveled to Iowa to teach classes at her niece’s fabric store. It’s not an exaggeration to say she sewed hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of quilts, donating many to local veteran's hospitals.