Audrey F. Rath

    Audrey Frances Rath, 86, formerly of Snowflake, died on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, at Phoenix Mountain Assisted Living Nursing Home from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. Funeral services were held Nov. 3 at the Biltmore Ward Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Phoenix, with Bishop Scott Gardner officiating. The concluding service and interment will begin at 1 o’clock this afternoon (Nov. 4) at the R.V. “Mike” Ramsay Memorial Cemetery in Snowflake.
   Audrey was born on Nov. 7, 1922, in Moab, Utah, to the late Millard and Agnes Alberta (Crapo) Branson.
   She moved to Arizona from New Mexico in 1940, and worked as a waitress throughout most of her adult life. She loved to serve others. In her younger years, she worked for many years at The Islands Restaurant, an upscale Polynesian eatery located on Seventh Street.
   Audrey also was a devoted homemaker, wife and mother to her family. She was a skilled breadmaker, and many were the recipients of that gift. Many an hour she could be found cooking in her kitchen, as she loved to cook for others. Audrey was also an excellent seamstress.
   Besides these, one of her other great joys in life was camping with her family in the White Mountains of Arizona.
   This sweetheart of a lady will truly be missed by many; but especially by those who called her mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother and friend.
   Survivors include four of her five children, Robert Dale Ervien (Ethelyn “Effie”) of Snowflake, JoAnn Parsons of Mesa, Janice Lee Meek (Mick) of the Denver area in Colorado and Audrey Gwen Rey of Phoenix; 18 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.
   She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe E. Rath in January 1999; her daughter, Judy Rae Ralston; her son-in-law, Charles “Chuck” Parsons; two sisters: Edna Ramsey and Betty Mills; and her brother, Max Branson.
   Owens Livingston Mortuary of Snowflake is in charge of the arrangements.