Audrey Fowler

With a smile that could light up a room, Audrey Hoag-Fowler was a delightful woman to know. She loved being social, and was always able to beat anyone to the punch line as she was gifted with a quick wit. Audrey continually needed to be doing something and was even active up until just two weeks before her death. She was generous as it didn’t matter what it was, if it was hers, then it was yours too. Audrey never missed any of her grandchildren’s birthdays, and she spoiled both her grandchildren and even her great-grandchildren with fun adventures that always made each one feel so special. She had such a unique presence about her that will be so dearly missed.

With the dawn of the 1920s, America was budding with new technology and opportunities around every corner. Times were good with the end of WWI in 1918, and the spirit of America was alive and well. It was on September 29, 1920, that Harvey and Audrey (Chatterdon) Warner were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Audrey. She was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, as the oldest of six children in her family. During her earliest years Audrey was raised in Muskegon, although her family moved around a bit. They lived on a number of farms where Audrey became quite acquainted with farm life. She was quite mischievous as a young girl, and since her family moved so much, she attended a variety of different schools.

Great changes were in store for Audrey when she moved to Grand Rapids to live with her aunt. It was in Grand Rapids that she met a young man named Raymond Hoag. After dating for a time they were married in 1938. They were soon blessed with four children altogether. As a mother of young children Audrey was very involved and active at times, although it was still important to her that she enjoy a lively social life as well. As troubled times came in her marriage, Audrey went back to school and earned her high school equivalency diploma, and then became a licensed practical nurse (LPN). During this time, Audrey got divorced after 16 years of marriage, which left her to finish her education while raising four children – not an easy feat! With her education behind her, Audrey worked at Dr. Reynolds’s office for several years and truly enjoyed her job. She also felt strongly that her children should attend only one school, so she made a point of not moving while her children were of school age.

Still very active with her social life, Audrey was in for a pleasant surprise while out dancing one evening. She met a man named Robert Fowler whom she married in 1965. As a couple they enjoyed being active, including as Masons. They loved to get away to their cabin on the Tamarack River near Howard City. Their children and grandchildren loved visiting them there. Audrey and Robert also rented a farm for a time where their family loved to come visit them as well. She would even cook up the frog legs the kids caught! Audrey loved being active with her children as adults including playing tennis, golf, and cards.

There were a variety of interests that Audrey pursued over the years, and of course, many of them kept her active. She loved bowling and did well even when she was legally blind. Audrey participated in water aerobics with friends for several years as well. She simply loved being on the go and was always ready at a moment’s notice. Even during her later years when she could no longer drive, her friends were always willing to take her where she wanted to go – and she was usually waiting in the doorway when they pulled up! Audrey loved crafts and was generous with her creations as well. She knitted scarves for each family member, often knitting 100 in a year, and she was also famous for knitting dishcloths that she was always giving away. Audrey also crocheted countless hangers over the years, did some oil painting, and created ceramic pieces and then painted them. She loved her gold jewelry and always had a backyard full of flowers. Even when Audrey could no longer care for her flowers herself, there was a family day when everyone came to her home and set to work. She loved animals and had a variety of cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, ducks, and even chickens through the years.

One important component in Audrey’s life was her family. She loved to gather with her entire family and there didn’t need to be a specific reason to get together either. Although she was not always the one to organize the gathering, she was never shy about instigating one. Audrey also regularly stayed in touch with her siblings over the phone. She took her grandchildren and great-grandchildren on outings such as to the circus or on a train ride, and she had pictures of each grandchild on her kitchen wall.

A second essential part of Audrey’s life was her affiliation with various organizations. She was Past Royal Matron of the Order of Amaranth; Past Worthy Matron of Grand Oriental York Chapter #32, Order of Eastern Star; Past President of Social Order of Beauceant, Grand Rapids Assembly #68; Past Queen of Deir-el-Bahari #67, Daughters of the Nile. She also served as past treasurer of North East Citizens Action Association.

In many ways Audrey was an extraordinary woman. She offered excellent advice, but only when asked since she was never one to meddle. Audrey did, however, regularly receive phone calls from those looking for medical advice. Even after her beloved Bob died in 2001 and as her own eyesight deteriorated, Audrey remained strong and continued on with the days she was given. Audrey was proud of her Irish lineage even though it was rather minute.

Audrey Hoag-Fowler was a vivacious and outgoing woman who took what life gave her and made the most of it. She genuinely loved people, especially her beloved family. Audrey loved being active and even complained that the men were too old when she went out dancing during her later years. She could be feisty at times, yet she was always there to offer a piece of advice laced with years of acquired wisdom. Audrey will be missed by the many people whose lives she touched in such a special way.

Audrey Hoag-Fowler died on January 2, 2010. Audrey’s family includes her sister, Erlene (David) Clark; her children, Barbara Sokoloski, Patsy (Gerald) Baar, Donna (Anthony) Francik; Raymond C. (Connie) Hoag, Michael (Kim) Fowler, Terry Kropf, and Sandra (Philip) Ayers; numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. Audrey was preceded in death by her husband, Robert M. Fowler; and siblings Edward Warner, Kenneth Warner, Dorothy Dykhuizen and Vern Warner. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 6 at 1 p.m. at Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes – Van Strien Creston – Grand Rapids, MI, where relatives and friends are invited to visit with her family on Monday from 7-9 p.m. and on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a favorite memory or make a memorial donation to Hospice of Michigan.