Audrey Ruth Young

Audrey Ruth Keller-Young was the eldest daughter of Henry and Maude-Bassett Keller. She was born on April 11, 1925 at the family homestead in Jewell County, Kansas. Audrey grew up in the Odessa area, attended Lebanon High School and graduated in 1943.

After graduating, Audrey taught school in southern Jewell County for a short time. In 1945, she moved to Denver to work for Boeing Aircraft Manufacturers and later worked at the Gates Rubber Company. While working in Denver, she met Mike Young and they were married on September 16, 1946.

In 1948, they moved to Audrey’s grandparents’ farm, south of Lebanon, Kansas, with Mike’s two children; Sylvia and Robert. In 1961, the couple adopted two children, Ronald and Rebecca.

Audrey was an active member of the Odessa United Methodist Church where she served as a Sunday school teacher. She participated in The Ladies Aide and The Merry Mixer Club. She enjoyed gardening and growing flowers and sharing her plants with friends and neighbors. Also a big part of her life was her love for her many cats and dogs. She was fond of sewing clothing for her family. Audrey and Mike also enjoyed traveling with Audrey’s parents to destinations including Nashville, Tennessee, Oregon and Canada.

Audrey departed this life at the age of 82 due to complications following open heart surgery on December 27, 2007, at St. Francis Health Center, Topeka, Kansas.

Audrey was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 54 years, Mike, and her stepson Robert.

She is survived by two daughters; Sylvia Smith and husband Norman of Arvada, Colorado, and Becky Attwood and husband Ron of Smith Center, Kansas; her son Ron Young and wife Carol of Fredericksburg, Virginia; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren; three sisters; Joyce Ritter and husband Boyd of Downs, Kansas; Lucile Clark of Esbon, Kansas, and Charlotte Detwiler and husband Milton of Kensington, Kansas; nieces; nephews; and many other relatives and friends.

A celebration of Audrey R. Young life was held Tuesday, January 1, 2008, at 2:00 p.m., at the United Methodist Church, Esbon, Kansas, with Pastor Dan Dempsey and Pastor Bruce Richter
officitaing. Music was provided by Sherry Brock, pianist, and Rhonda Simmelink, soloist. Casket bearers were: Kenneth Standley, Douglas Clark, Troy Attwood, Milton Detwiler, Lance McDowell, and Derek Clark. Interment was in the Odessa Cemetery, rural Lebanon, Kansas. The family will name a memorial charity at a later date. Melby Mortuary, Mankato, Kansas, was in charge of arrangements.