Audrey Ann Waggoner

Audrey passed away last Thursday afternoon surrounded by family. She lost her husband (Jim) in February and her life was never the same. Broken hearts can’t always heal. She lived a wonderful life filled with adventures.

Audrey was born to Adeline (Speirs) and Harold Allison in Salt Lake City, Utah – she completed their family of four. Her mother had been born and raised in Utah and her father stationed there for the military. The military soon required that they move around the country during the war. They were based in Washington, Texas, Nebraska, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, & California. She graduated from high school in San Francisco, California after three years at Mount Clemens High School in Michigan. She loved to tell stories of her childhood, including illnesses (lots of special treatment), east coast vacations, blaming her sister for her mischief, trading her school lunches for homemade tamales, and almost going to China to meet her dad who was stationed there.

She attended Oregon State College in Corvallis, Oregon. She proudly chose this school because the ratio was 9-1 men to women. At OSC she met her future husband on a blind date where they smuggled beer into a Halloween party. They married at Parks Air Force Base in Dublin, California. They were soon off and running to a myriad of adventures.

Audrey and Jim moved several times due his military service and career. Audrey was a proud supportive corporate wife - dinner parties at the drop of a hat, moving within days after notice, packing and unpacking suitcases at a moment’s notice, and traveling wherever and whenever needed. After retirement, they traveled the world and had a grand time. On her travels she discovered handmade lace and collected a piece from every country they visited. She also collected Delft pottery and Waterford crystal. She once spent hours watching an apprentice cut his 1st bowl during a trip to Ireland. She prided herself on always being put together with the softest clothes (she had to touch every piece of fabric) and shoes & glasses to match.

Audrey and Jim had two children, three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She cherished her role as wife, mother & mostly grandmother. Doting does not begin to describe her role in her families lives. The Saturday before she passed she watched via FaceTime her oldest great-granddaughter get married (again!) She went out of her way to make holidays special, her Christmases were epic. She also ensured her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren received the educations they wanted, from college to Folkehøgskole in Norway.

Audrey is survived by her children, Allison Waggoner (Mark Held) and James Curtis Waggoner Jr. (Mary Jo); grandchildren, Melissa Ritter (Chris), Jessica Korynta (Joel), and JC Waggoner (Nikki Theisen); step-grandchildren, Nichole Held, Michael Held; and great-grandchildren, Adeline & Jack Trowbridge, Thea Ritter (Karsten Gjeruldsen), Cosette, Miriam, & Vivienne Ritter, and Nikolai Korynta.

Audrey had an amazing team of caregivers during her final weeks. Together they formed a team that made Audrey smile, laugh and feel cared for and loved. Audrey’s family would like to thank the staff at Chateau Waters for their love and care of Mom and Dad during the past few years. We know we will miss someone, but of special importance are Amanda, John, Andrea, Josie, and Susan. We would also like to thank the staff of Ecumen Hospice including, Megan, Sara, and most importantly Kendra (& Winston) for guiding us through her final days. Finally, we would like to thank the caretakers from Home Instead, especially Doris, Dorothy, Raelynn, and Natasha – we didn’t know how special their service would be to us and to Mom.

A small family celebration will be held.

Memorials preferred to Concordia Language Villages, Attn: Norwegian Scholarship Fund, 901 8th St. S., Moorhead, Minnesota 56562. Audrey strongly believed in supporting all forms of education. Truly a life well lived and a legacy to be proud of.