Audrey Marion Theurer

AUDREY MARION THEURER Jan. 28, 1928- March 16, 2018 Audrey was born January 28, 1928, the eldest of seven children to Burris Marion and Crystal Mills Rose, in Independence, Oregon. She received her basic education in the mid-valley and graduated from Independence High School in 1945. On March 12th of that year, she became a war bride when she married Verle Theurer of Hoskins. Audrey lived and worked in Portland for a year while Verle was in the Army and upon his return, the couple made their home in Philomath for the next 30years where they raised three sons. During this time she worked as a homemaker, a Scout Den Mother, a grocery clerk and a bookkeeper. About 1978, Audrey and Verle returned to their teenage neighborhood, when they bought the Fort Tavern in Hoskins. They owned and operated the tavern for 10 years, and remained in the area until they moved to Corvallis when Verle’s health faded in early 1997 In 2015, Audrey returned to Philomath to be closer to her family. Being a 5th generation Oregonian, she had a lifelong love affair with genealogy and local history. She was a published author, having written several newspaper and magazine articles and 1 book on the topic. Audrey was often referred to as the Philomath Hoskins/King Valley historian, and was called upon frequently by OSU students and others to give talks, educate about local history and help people with research about the local area. During her life, Audrey watched her husband, 2 sons and 1 grandson serve in war zones. She was a founding member of the Polk County Historical Society, a longtime member and past president of the Benton County Historical Society, a member of the Benton County Parks Advisory Board, the Philomath Frolic, and a longtime volunteer for the Hoskins Kings Valley Fire Department and Cemetery. She was proceeded in death by her parents; sisters, Frances Schy, Lavern Nepple and Nancy Bell; brothers, Steve, and Bert; her husband, Verle; her son Dalton and grandson, Matt. She is survived by brother, Paul Rose and wife Ingrid, of Henderson, Nevada; two sons, David and his wife Jayne of Burnt Woods, and Lawrie and his wife Melissa of Philomath; six grandsons, Mike, Kelly, Luke,Marty, Mitch, Merlin and 16 great-grandchildren as well as several nieces and nephews. A service will be at 4:30 pm, Saturday, March 31 at the Benton County Historical Museum, 1101 Main St, Philomath, OR 97370 “Job well done, Mom.”

Audrey Marion Theurer

January 28, 1928 - March 16, 2018