Audrey Lucille Vandeveer

Audrey Lucille Grandpre Vandeveer, 83, of Chehalis, Washington, died August 9, 2012, peacefully and gracefully at home.

Audrey was born February 14, 1929, in Butte, Montana, the daughter of Fred and Gertrude Grandpre. Her much beloved father died when she was a young girl. Her mother and her older brother, George Hanson, supported young Audrey through this difficult time, just as World War II was beginning.

She graduated from Butte High School in 1947, and started her college adventures at Montana State University in Bozeman, studying secretarial and business. Soon thereafter, she met and married Paul L. Vandeveer, a dashing Navy war veteran. They were married on September 30, 1949, and took up residence in Butte, where Paul was attending the Montana School of Mines (now known as Montana Tech) to become a geologist. Upon graduation, Paul received a commission through ROTC as an officer in the United States Air Force. As the Korean War was by then underway, he received orders to Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. Audrey soon joined him there, traveling by ocean liner across the Pacific with her first baby, Freddie, in tow.

After the war ended, Audrey and Paul returned from overseas to Butte to begin their family life. Two more children, David and Sandy, soon came along. Audrey and Paul and their family lived in Butte on and off, but Paul's career in mining also took them to central Wyoming, the Bitterroot Valley in Montana, and Salt Lake City, before they finally moved to Centralia, Washington, in 1972. Audrey worked as a medical records specialist for local physicians' offices in Centralia. Until she moved to Chehalis, Washington, a few years ago, Audrey was a regular member of St. Marks Lutheran Church in Rochester. She and Paul were married for more than 50 years, until he passed away in 2002. She had by then extended her family to include five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Her greatest joy was her beloved children and their families, and her extended family, including her mother, her brother George and his wife Helen, and her cousins, nieces, and nephews. But other things also brought joy to Audrey's life -- her music, particularly the piano music she played with great talent on her baby grand that was a gift to her by her father when she was still a little girl. While living in Butte, she was the organist at the prominent St. Marks Lutheran Church. She loved square dancing with Paul and friends and was a member of the Adna Do-Si-Do square dance club for several years. She truly enjoyed keeping up with her relatives and with good friends she gathered over the years, and loved good books, wildflowers, butterfly brooches, and her devotion to the Lord.

Audrey was preceded in death by her parents and her brother and sister-in-law.

She is survived by her three children, Fred Vandeveer of San Diego, California; David Vandeveer of San Jose, California; and Sandra Lewis of Rochester, Washington. She has four living grandchildren, Allison Mori, Laura Taylor, Jennifer Taylor, and David Taylor, and one deceased grandchild, Michael Vandeveer. She is also survived by two great-grandchildren, David and James Mori.

Audrey was a compassionate and intelligent woman, cherished by her family and admired by her friends. She was witty, but always kind and generous. She valued manners and patriotism. She much preferred old-fashioned letter-writing even with the advent of e-mail. She will be missed greatly by all whose lives she touched with her love and graciousness.

A graveside service will be held at Mt. View Cemetery in Centralia at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, August 15, 2012. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to local churches or ministries or to charities supporting disadvantaged children.