Audrey Dorothy Taft's Obituary
Audrey Dorothy Taft, a lifelong relative of Tucson, died at age 94 on Tuesday, October 18. Audrey was born October 9, 1917 in Devon, Montana to Anthony Foix and Cassie Goserude. Audrey is survived by her daughter, Camille (John) Braswell; and son, Joseph (Maria) Shaffer, of Tucson, AZ; 5 grandchildren Dan (Holly) Wilmot, Washington DC; Jim Wilmot, Washington DC; Laurel Shaffer, Santa Fe, NM; Linda (Nick) Oatley of Washington DC; Sarahlynn (Brad) Kile of Albuquerque, NM; and 5 great grandchildren Taylor and Chloe Wilmot of Washington DC; Sascha Hoker of Santa Fe, NM; and Jackson and Grayson Kile of Albuquerque. She was predeceased by her husbands Joseph K. Shaffer (1967) and Russell Taft (1983). Audrey led an exciting and adventures life. She grew up on a wheat farm in Montana before the availability of modern conveniences. She witnessed the practical application of electricity to farm life; the introduction of the telephone, the automobile; television and the growth of aviation. In 1952 with Camille and Joey in tow, she flew half way around the world to spend 8 years with Joe in the jungle of Sumatra in Indonesia. During these 8 years she experienced the adventure and excitement of Asia and Europe. Returning to the USA in 1958, She and Joe settled in Roswell, NM. They established the Shaffer Company, an office supply store, where Audrey was the accountant. After the business was sold, she became an accountant at the Eastern New Mexico Medical Center in Roswell until the family moved to Billings Montana. In 1967, Joe passed away and Audrey headed to New Mexico and then Tucson to be near Camille. She developed breast cancer; but was proud that she able to became a breast cancer survivor. In 1970, answering an ad in the newspaper for an accountant, she joined a new startup company called AlphaGraphic. She remained with AlphaGraphic as their accountant and bookkeeper until she retired at age 77. After retirement she continued to seek new life experiences. She traveled to Berlin and witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall; she traveled to her father's birthplace Foix, France; and visited all the Central European Counties freed with the fall of the Iron Curtain. In addition to traveling her interests included Bridge and all card games. She was always a top finisher in the family's annual Hearts tournament. She was an excellent seamstress, making a lot of her own clothes including clothes for Camille and Joey. She enjoyed numerous productions at the Tucson Theater; was an avid Wildcat basketball fan. Audrey was the matriarch of our family. She played an important mentoring and developing role in her grand and great grandchildren's lives. She was caring, compassionate, giving and held the family to high moral and ethical standards. October 9 we were fortunate to celebrated Mom's 94th birthday, her life and her accomplishments. We also were able to share her remembrances of personal and family events. Audrey lived a beautiful life; we are all thankful we were chosen to shared our lives with her. Per Audrey's request a memorial service will not be held. Audrey's ashes will be interred next to her husband Joe Shaffer at the South Park Cemetery in Roswell, NM. Donations may be made to the Humane Society-Southern AZ, www.hssaz.org. Our entire family wants to express our collective thanks to all that have contributed so much to Audrey's life.
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