Audrey Lou Batcheller

Audrey Lou (Doughten) Batcheller was born on January 5th, 1938 in Webster City, Iowa. She was the daughter of Pansey Bell Nelson and Charles Arthur Doughten. She as the youngest of five children. Her siblings were William, Basil, Eleanor, and Bonnie. November 7th, 1954, she married the love of her life, Merlyn Lewis Batcheller. She was the proud mother of Marlyn Wayde (Michele), Mitchell Wayne, and Matthew William (Anne) Batcheller. She was the adoring grandmother of Katharine Nicole (William Andrew) Nannie, James Matthew, Amanda Anne, Olivia Caroline, William Bartlett, and Calista Audra Batcheller. Those whose lives Audrey touched knew her as a kind, loving, gentle spirit. Throughout her life she exhibited extraordinary courage and strength. No matter what the obstacle, she faced it with grace and dignity. Her unwavering Christian faith sustained her through good times and bad. Her love was unconditional and incomparable. Her devotion to her family, expecially to her husband, was legendary. When Merlyn was working on the road, Audrey never sent him off without a care package she lovingly made for him, which included his favorite oatmeal raisin cookies. Also, she frequently had a hand sewn shirt waiting for him upon his return. Those shirts made him the envy of his fellow truckers. Her sons looked forward to the days when they came home from school to be greeted by the delicious aroma of freshly-baked raisin bar. Some of the grandkids' fondest memories are the handmade holiday cards with her trademark cat symbol on the back, baking Christmas cookies, creating art in Grandma's craft room, having a special dinner for 13th birthdays, eating spaghetti with canned corn, and having the opportunity to spend the night at Grandma and Grandpa's house to visit ""China Town."" These memories will never fade because Audrey photographed every moment they spent together. One of her greatest passions was photography; she was rarely seen without her camera. Audrey loved to watch her screensaver of all her family pictures. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered by her soulmate, Merlyn, her family, and friends for her honest and genuine heart. She has left this earth, yet she will never leave our hearts.