Audrey Ann Pavlicek was born July 14, 1942 in Oberlin, KS to Donald Charles and Mary Christine (Fisher) Lemman. She passed away March 26, 2020 in Oberlin at the age of 77.
Audrey grew up in Oberlin, KS and graduated from Decatur County High School in 1960. She went on to graduate from McCook Jr. College in 1962 and Kearney College in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. Audrey married Murry Dean Pavlicek on October 26, 1961 at the Oberlin Covenant Church. She began her teaching career at a Country School in District 91 in Frontier County, NE for six years teaching K-8 grades then in 1968 they moved to McCook, NE and she taught 4th Grade at Eastward Elementary for three years. In 1971, she taught Preschool in Denver before returning to Oberlin in 1974. Audrey started out as a substitute teacher then taught at Norcatur Elementary School 1st-3rd grades for 10 years until the school closed in 1985. She then began teaching at Oberlin Elementary School, teaching one year of Kindergarten, then 5th grade, and finished her career teaching 1st grade until her retirement in 2004. She loved teaching so much that she continued tutoring students during the summer. Audrey loved having her student do plays/programs. She would have Murry help build the sets and set them up.
Audrey loved her family and had many fond memories of growing up with her cousins, playing cowboys and Indians, paper dolls, coloring and reading. Audrey sold Home Interiors for 10 years, earning a trip to Hawaii for two, which she traded in for a trip to Florida for four. The whole family got to go to Walt Disney World, Sea World, and Busch Gardens. She was a member of KNEA and was a past president of the Lioness Club. Audrey loved reading, embroidery and making doll clothes for Kelli and Kristi’s dolls. She also enjoyed bowling, playing Bingo and watching Days of Our Lives and Dallas.
Audrey devoted her life to her parents, sisters and brother, husband, daughters, nieces and nephews and her beloved grandchildren. She attended every event possible that her family was involved in. She spent many hours babysitting Kerri’s boys while she worked and got her master’s degree. She valued family and loved family reunions; she was their rock. Audrey had a beautiful smile and was rarely seen without it. Her family will never forget “Audrey is a good girl”.
Audrey was preceded in death by her parents, Donald and Mary Lemman; sister, Dona VanPelt and brothers-in-law, Roy VanPelt and Steve Newton. She is survived by her husband, Murry of the home; children: Kelli Butherus (Daniel) of Wichita, KS and Kerri Schippers (Marvin Kaus) of Hoxie, KS; siblings: Janet Wright (Stephen) of Hays, KS, Donnie Lemman (Gerry) of Hays, KS, Carol Hodson (Scott) of Omaha, NE; brother-in-law, Cletus Knipp of Hays, KS; sister-in-law, Marcia Lemman of Salina, KS; grandchildren: Kollyn Schippers of Oberlin, KS, Mark Schippers of Colby, KS, Luke Schippers of Hoxie, KS, Clay and Erin Butherus of Wichita, KS and 16 nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 11:00 am Monday, March 30, 2020 at Pauls Funeral Home for immediate family only. Burial will follow at Oberlin Cemetery. Visitation will be 1-5:00 pm Sunday, March 29, 2020 at Pauls Funeral Home in Oberlin. Public is welcome but we will need to limit the numbers in the building and social distancing practices must be followed. Memorial contributions may be made to Decatur Health Systems or the Oberlin City Library. Condolences may be left at www.paulsfh.com