Audrey Frances Rath

Audrey Frances Rath, formerly of Snowflake, Arizona died Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at Phoenix Mountain Assisted Living Nursing Home from complications of Alzheimer's Disease. She was 86 years old. Audrey was born on November 7, 1922 in Moab, Utah to the late Millard and Agnes Alberta (Crapo) Branson. She moved to Arizona from New Mexico in 1940 and has 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 7th 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. She is survived by 4 of her 5 children: Robert Dale Ervien (Ethelyn "Effie") of Snowflake, Arizona, JoAnn Parsons of Mesa, Arizona, Janice Lee Meek (Mick) of the Denver area in Colorado, Audrey Gwen Rey of Phoenix, Arizona; 18 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by: her husband, Joe E. Rath in January of 1999; daughter, Judy Rae Ralston; son-in-law, Charles "Chuck" Parsons; 2 sisters: Edna Ramsey, Betty Mills; and by her brother, Max Branson. Her funeral will begin 11:00 A.M., Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at the Biltmore Ward Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Missouri near 18th Street in Phoenix, Arizona, where visitation will begin 1 hour prior at 10:00 A.M. Those services will be officiated by Bishop Scott Gardner. The concluding service and interment will begin 1:00 P.M., Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at the R.V. "Mike" Ramsay Memorial Cemetery in Snowflake, Arizona