Obituary of Audrey Lancaster

Audrey Lancaster, 91, of Filer, left the shadows for real life on Sunday, July 15, 2012, at Wynwood Assisted Living in Twin Falls, her home of the past two years. A lifelong resident of Filer, Audrey Arley Glassinger was born to Benjamin and Amy Bohannan Glassinger at home on May 28, 1921, the third of four children. A tomboy, Audrey grew up poor and proud, like in most families during the depression years, with good stories and good memories. Among other activities, she played the French horn in the Filer High School band and performed as a vocalist. She graduated from FHS in 1939 and married a high school sweetheart, Rex Lancaster, on May 1, 1940. Always farmers, Rex and Audrey worked the land and to get ahead as a team, raising crops and their four children on the family homestead west of Filer until purchasing their own farms and moving north of Filer in 1971. As the children grew, Audrey became the full-time “hired-man” and drove tractor for harrowing, cultivating, baling and swathing hay in particular. She especially enjoyed harvest time driving bean, grain and beet trucks. The Registered Milking Shorthorn dairy herd was sold, however, when she objected to doing the milking. Beef cattle then filled the corrals. An accomplished seamstress, she could see a dress, skirt, or blouse in town and sew the same for her girls or herself, with or without a pattern. She did try doing the same for her son, but only once and then admitted tailoring men’s clothing was not her calling. A good meat and potatoes cook, Audrey also baked a dessert everyday in those days for her family and she and Rex taught their children a hard work ethic. Audrey was always proud of her children, her roots, and her country. They served the Filer community in 4-H and worked for over 50 years in Filer Grange #215 as well as the Oddfellow and Rebekah lodges, Audrey serving as Noble Grand and in various offices for Miriam Rebekah Lodge #86 until those organizations closed. She was a lifelong member of the Filer Baptist Church and sang for a time in the Sweet Adelines. She is also a member of The Order of the Eastern Star and of Hillside Helpers Club. Audrey and Rex hunted Idaho backlands for deer, elk, and antelope on horseback in their younger days as well as locally for pheasants, and they fished from their pontoon boat in Salmon and Magic Reservoirs later in life. They traveled with several Idaho Farmer tour groups, the highlight being through the Panama Canal and Caribbean. Audrey’s last “big trip” was to China with two of her daughters in 2002. Audrey enjoyed playing games, whether Old Maid with her grandchildren, ‘buy-em’ with the family, pinochle with her friends, or gambling trips to Jackpot. She was always a bingo fan and loved shopping, beautiful fabric, chocolate, good soup, ice cream (homemade or otherwise,) cats, making carmel popcorn, the old hymns, a good story, and hot, hot tea. For years she worked as an election judge in Filer, in the antique building at the Filer Fair, and collected bells as well as Fenton glassware. After Rex’s death in 1996, she purchased a home in Filer, living her last years within a quarter-mile of where she was born. Besides her husband, Audrey is preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Clara Pratt; both brothers, Howard and Ted Glassinger; and a son-in-law, Larry Morris. Survivors include her children: RexAnn Burkhardt, Tucson, AZ; Nancy Jo Morris, Payette; Ella Faye (Keith) Gabriel, Meridian; Gordon Dale (Frances) Lancaster, Filer; 9 grandchildren: Sid L. Morris, Eden; Jennifer (Carl) Coombes, Pocatello; Becci (David) Tupper, Hagerman; Rob R. Morris, Meridian; Tammy (Ernie) Colver, Filer; Jody (Eric) Carlson, Winnemucca, NV; Monica (Josh) Taylor, Nampa; Anita (Brian) Lara, Buhl; Ben (Mindy) Lancaster, Filer. She is also survived by 18 great-grandchildren: Jerad, Bradley, Tyler and Tegan Morris; Audrey Jo Reeves (her namesake); Zarek and J.C. Tupper; Chandler and Caitlyn Colver; Hailey and Kinley Carlson; Alexis (Alex) Rodriguez; Ashley and Brandon Taylor; Aaron and Jacoby Lara; Braxton and Jaelyn Lancaster; 3 nieces, 2 nephews; cousins and loving friends. A great-great grandchild is expected in November. A celebration of her life will be conducted at Rosenau Funeral Home, 2826 Addison Ave. E., Twin Falls, at 11:00 AM on Friday, July 20, 2012, with a luncheon to follow at the funeral home. Graveside services will be at 2:00 PM in the Filer Cemetery. In consideration of the hot weather, the family asks that you dress comfortably. Arrangements are under direction of Accent Funeral Home, Meridian, phone 888-5833. There will be a viewing at Rosenau Funeral Home from 6:00 to 8:00 PM Thursday evening and prior to services on Friday. For those who wish, memorials may be made in her name to the Filer Senior Citizens Center, 222 Main Street, Filer, ID 83328, or flowers may be sent. Audrey’s family would like to extend their deepest appreciation to the caring staff at Wynwood Assisted Living and to Visions Hospice for their smiles, their tenderness, and their compassion, as well as to her dedicated friends for their support. Love is a gift. Thank you.