Audrey Graves, formerly of Williamson County
Audrey Graves, age 80, of Mendon, Illinois, died at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 31, 2018, in Blessing Hospital in Quincy.
Audrey was born Oct. 7, 1937 in Williamson County, the daughter of Lawrence D. and Annadean Doughty Bell.
She married Samuel L. "Sam" Graves on Sept. 1, 1957 in Corinth, Mississippi. He preceded her in death on March 24, 2015.
Audrey was a 1955 graduate of Crab Orchard High School in Crab Orchard, Illinois. She graduated from Eastern Illinois University where she received a bachelor's degree in Education and a Master's in Education Administration.
Audrey was a beloved teacher at Durfee Elementary School in Decatur, Illinois, where she helped shape the lives of many children for more than 20 years. Audrey was the executive director of the Poshard Foundation for Abused Children, and she was the southern Illinois coordinator for the Glenn Poshard gubernatorial campaign. She was also one of the founding members of the Plymouth, Illinois chapter of the Junior Women's Club.
Audrey also enjoyed singing. In her younger years, she was a member of a gospel quartet that was featured on the radio in southern Illinois.
After her retirement, Audrey enjoyed travel, and she traveled extensively. She visited all 48 states of the continental United States.
Most of all, she loved spending time with her family. After retirement, she and Sam moved to Quincy to be near their grandchildren. She was a devoted grandmother, who spent as much time with her grandchildren as she could.
Audrey was of the Baptist faith, and she was very in active in the Baptist Church.
Audrey is survived by two daughters, Karen Graves of Newark, Ohio, and Karol (Brad) Ehmen of Quincy; four grandchildren, Lauren McKinley Mueller, Madeline Riley Ehmen, Ella Bradley Ehmen and Anna Bergen Ehmen, all of Quincy; a sister, Shirley Russell, of Galatia, Illinois; two brothers, Larry (Marsha) Bell, of Newburgh, Indiana, and Robert (Mollie) Bell, of Marion, Illinois; a sister-in-law, Marsha Bell, of Harco, Illinois and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
In addition to her husband, Sam, Audrey was preceded in death by her parents, and a brother, Edward Bell.
Services in Quincy will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018 at Calvary Baptist Church, 1825 State St., Quincy, with the Rev. Wayne Manago officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the church.
In Marion, a service will be held at noon Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018 at Odd Fellows Cemetery. Prior to the service, visitation will be held from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Saturday, at Second Baptist Church in Marion.
Memorials are requested to go to the Community Foundation for St. James Lutheran School, in Quincy.
Hansen-Spear Funeral Directors in Quincy are in charge of the arrangements. www.hansenspear.com.