Audrey Maxine (Priest) French, 85, was born December 26, 1934 in Hemet, California to Hugh and Louelva (Connell) Priest. She went to her heavenly home on May 21,2020, at Highland Park Care Center in Alliance. She was the youngest of five children, Hermel, Alice, Kenneth, and Doris. The family moved to a ranch northwest of Tryon in March 1935. That ranch later became known as the Bob Stevenson place. The Priest children attended district country school and rode their horse to school.
Audrey was a 1952 McPherson County High School graduate and received Nebraska State Normal School training so she could teach school. Her first teaching assignment was at District 36 in McPherson County. Audrey married Arthur M. French, June 29, 1952 at her parent’s home in Tryon. To this union, four children were born, Judy, Brian, Karla and Darwin.
Audrey and Art purchased the Tryon Graphic newspaper in 1957. The family moved to Stapleton in 1960 after purchasing The Stapleton Enterprise. Later they added the ownership of the Thomas County Herald, June 1, 1981, the Arnold Sentinel in 1987, and Creative Printers, Inc.
Audrey was active in the Stapleton and Tryon communities. She was a member of the Tryon Rebekah Lodge #413, first serving in 1974 as Noble Grand. She remained active in the Rebekah’s until 2007 when the Tryon Lodge closed. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit #324 in Stapleton, a member of the Stapleton Chamber of Commerce, and a member of Free Methodist Church in Ringgold where she taught Sunday school for many years.
Audrey was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur in November 2008, and her brothers and sisters, Alice (Gordon) Bassett, Hermel Priest, Kenneth (Maxine) Priest, and Doris (LaVerne) Neal; parents, Hugh and Louelva; step-father, Elzie Hatch; step-sisters, Lois (Malcolm) Connell, and Gloria (Everett) Miller; and step-brother, Don (Mabel) Hatch.
She is survived by children, Judy M. Kramer of North Platte, Brian French of Brady, Karla (Mike) Janecek of North Platte, and Darwin (Diana) French of Alliance; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Phyllis Priest of North Platte, brother-in-law, Don Nicholson of North Platte, and sister-in-law Alice (Clayton) Dobbins of Ft Worth, TX.
A memorial has been established in her name and online condolences can be made at adamsswanson.com. The service will be live streamed on the Adams & Swanson Facebook page.
Private family graveside services will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday May 28, 2020 at the Miller Cemetery near Tryon with the Rev. John Parsons officiating. Visitation will be Wednesday from 12-8 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home, which is in charge of arrangements.