Audrey Wheeler of Worcester, NY died July 7, 2020, at home attended by her family and caregivers. She was 90 years old.

Born Audrey Jane Lattimer to Charles 'Alton' and Nettie (Knibbs) Lattimer on December 18,1929 in Middletown, NY. She had one sister, Betty Lou, five years her junior who shared her bright red hair. A brother, Dan Edwin, born in 1940, died unexpectedly as an infant. She grew up in Johnson and Washingtonville, NY. From the 8th grade on, Audrey worked in her small-town pharmacy behind the soda counter where she developed a life-long love of chocolate ice cream sodas with vanilla ice cream. She graduated from Washingtonville High School in 1947.

She attended Union University School of Nursing at Albany Medical Center, graduating as an R.N. in 1950. In her senior year she was selected to assist doctors from Albany Medical College working on the first artificial kidney in upstate NY. It was during that time she met "Jerry', a red-headed pharmacy student, at a dance.

She married Gerald Daniel Wheeler on June 17, 1951 in Washingtonville, NY.  As newlyweds they lived and worked in Oxford and Canandaigua, before settling in Schenevus, NY in 1953. There they purchased the Reynolds' Building & Pharmacy, beginning their family in the apartment upstairs, later moving Wheeler Pharmacy to the site of the current 'Chief Schenevus' and buying a house on Arch Street. They welcomed four red-headed children over six years.

In 1963 they bought Moak Pharmacy in Worcester and soon after purchased and moved into Brownell's Department Store, as well as Carl Brownell's home on Main Street.  At this time Audrey managed the department store - which included men's and women's clothing, shoes and gifts - not to mention preparing meals for four growing children and one hungry pharmacist, each and every night at 6 pm. Audrey worked alongside her husband for 41 years. The site of their business, Wheeler Pharmacy & Department Store, was donated to be part of the Worcester Heritage Park after the building was destroyed by arson in 1994.

Audrey loved both her Worcester and Schenevus communities and her church. She served the Worcester United Methodist church as member and president of the United Methodist Women and was lay member to the Annual Conference for many years. She was also a member of the task force instrumental in establishing the Southeastern Otsego Health Center in Worcester and served on its board of directors. She served on the Maple Grove Cemetery board, and for many years organized local American Red Cross blood drives at the Methodist Church, remembered for making any calls to donors. She also took it upon herself to see that many of the town's elder ladies had rides to church, until at which time she became one herself and no longer drove.

Audrey and Jerry were married for 45 years before his death in 1997. She then found time to travel, enjoying group trips around the globe with the Gold Club and Eastern Travel. Her family was the light of her life. Her grandchildren were free to explore her old house with vintage books & toys, where they enjoyed visiting often, with rich play experiences. Audrey was an excellent cook, specializing in spaghetti sauce, vegetable beef soup, cookies and pies. She enjoyed crocheting, long meandering drives along the many back roads of the area, and collecting vinegar cruets - since she always recalled having a vinegar cruet on the table and a barrel in the cellar while growing up. She also enjoyed after-church brunches at the Worcester Inn with fellow parishioners and townsfolk, and visiting family members.

Audrey lived for six months at The Plains at Heritage assisted living in Oneonta, NY. Her last two years were spent in her Worcester home, made possible with the love and support of her dear next-door neighbors the Doroski family, as well as devoted caregivers, living on Main Street for 56 years. The family's little dog Sonja, a much-loved and constant companion, predeceased her this year.

Audrey will be sorely missed by her children, Daniel (Martha) of Cazenovia, NY, David (Carol) of Pasadena, MD, Douglas (Candace) of Poughquag, NY and Debra Terry of Santa Clara, CA. Grandchildren, Christopher (Jennifer & great-grandson Thomas) of Catonsville, MD, Katherine of Madison, WI, Emma of Cape Coral, FL, Timothy of San Diego, CA, Rebecca of Schenectady, NY, Amy of Poughquag, NY, Alicia Terry of Denver, CO, and Catherine Terry of Santa Clara, CA.

She was predeceased by her husband, Gerald, grandson, Zachary, sister, Betty Lou and brother-in-law, Richard Burch.

A graveside service will be held 2 p.m., Thursday, July 9, 2020 at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Worcester.  Please be mindful of social distancing, wearing a face covering, and to bring your own chair if needed.

Donations may be sent the Worcester Emergency Squad, PO Box 191, Worcester, NY 12197.

Expressions of sympathy may be made at, www.hellerskinnerfh.com , the website of Heller & Skinner Funeral Home, 155 Main St., Worcester, NY.