Audrey L. Colyn

Audrey L. Colyn , beloved daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, departed this world to enter heaven on July 5, 2016. Born Audrey Lavon Duke on October 2, 1923, to Timothy Duke and Beatrice (Ward) Duke in Ottumwa, Iowa, Audrey grew up loving animals and dancing. In high school, she was a drum majorette and was an aspiring ballerina until the war erupted and she worked as a riveter.

After the family relocated to Lenox, Iowa, Audrey met and ultimately married Charles Junior Colyn on March 13, 1943, in Ft Smith, Arkansas, where he was stationed. Although he went by Junior in those days, she called him “Chuck” and that is what everyone else began to call him too. Chuck Colyn owned his own welding and industrial x-ray business, and he welded hundreds of highway bridges during his successful career before being tragically killed in a work-related accident.

Over their forty-one year marriage, they had four children:

Charles Craig Colyn, born in 1943, was one of the first special needs children (Down’s Syndrome) who attended public school in Ottumwa, Iowa where he learned how to read and write. Charles preceded his mother in death and passed away in 1993.

Audrey is survived by her remaining three daughters and their families:

Carmela Leach (spouse Dale); Grandson Fielding Snyder; and Granddaughter Dacia Snyder and great- grandson Aiden.

Cozette Christian (spouse Tim); Grandson Jacob Christian (spouse Billi) and great-granddaughters Tyler and Ryan; Granddaughter Amber Durst (spouse Drue) and great-granddaughters Alea and Aubree and great-grandson Lane; and Granddaughter Cherith Johnson (spouse Brad) and great-grandson Zeke and great-granddaughter Eilee.

Callista Gregg (spouse Gene); Grandson Ethan (spouse Megan) and great-granddaughter Parker; Granddaughter Talitha Jacobs (spouse Keith) and great-grandson Theo and great-granddaughter Wren; Granddaughter Charis Clopton and great-grandson Andres and great-granddaughter Elyn; and Grandson Sterling (spouse Marissa).

Audrey was devoted to her family and loved living in the country with her horses and at one time had a goat and a donkey as well. She was always on the go and stayed busy. Audrey enjoyed watching birds and usually had a bird feeder by a window, where ever she was. She was actively involved in church life at First Baptist Church, 4-H, McPherson City Council, and she was a Paso Fino Association ring steward.

During the last four years of her life, she resided at the Tolbert Care Home under the direction of Mike and Marla Tolbert. Marla was an enormous blessing to Audrey during that time.

She will be sorely missed by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and a multitude of friends.

The memorial service will be held at 4:00 PM, Friday, July 8, 2016, at First Baptist Church, McPherson.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to First Baptist Church in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Audrey L. Colyn please visit our Sympathy Store.