Audrey Lou Cushman, age 81, of Fort Atkinson, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013 at Fort Atkinson Memorial Hospital.
Audrey was born in Jefferson, Wis. on July 19, 1932 the daughter of Benjamin and Luella (Schoechert) Parker.
In 1937, the family moved to Whitewater, where her parents opened Parker Bakery.
On July 24, 1952, Audrey married Richard Cushman at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Richard preceded her in death on Oct. 8, 2003. The couple moved to Fort Atkinson in 1952 where they raised their family.
Audrey worked at the Fireside Restaurant and Costume Shop as a seamstress for many years. Audrey was a member of the Whitewater Methodist Church until her marriage when the couple joined the Methodist Church in Fort Atkinson.
She was active in the United Methodist Women, Circle 5, taught Sunday school, helped with the luncheons for weddings and funerals, and was active with the Loving Hands crafters. Audrey loved to sew, which she taught her two daughters. She also enjoyed knitting, rug braiding, caning, and furniture refinishing.
Audrey gardened and canned produce to provide for her family and enjoyed visiting with her church friends. She was a Girl Scout leader and a den mother for the Cub Scouts.
She enjoyed many family camping vacations, seeing the country. She enjoyed taking trips with her husband to Hawaii in 1977 for their 25th anniversary, Norway in 1989 with good friends, an Alaskan cruise and to England in the spring of 2003 to follow the trail of John Wesley.
Surviving are her children, Ardys Hathaway, Jefferson, David Cushman, Lake Barrington, Ill., Dana Cushman, Jefferson, and Amy (Shane) Hilden, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.; a brother, Douglas (Winnie) Parker, Sun City West, Ariz.; grandchildren, Eric Hathaway, Jefferson, Nathan (Sara) Hathaway, Fort Atkinson, Alex Cushman, Chicago, Ill., Kevin Cushman, Chicago, Emma Hilden, Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and Morgan Hilden, Fort Leavenworth, Kan. Also survived by many other nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Audrey was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Richard Cushman, a sister, Jeanette Eames and an infant brother.
Funeral Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29 at First United Methodist Church, Fort Atkinson, with the Rev. Russell Frees Jr. officiating. Inurnment will be in the Evergreen Cemetery, Fort Atkinson.
Friends may call after noon on Sunday, Sept. 29 at the church until the time of the services.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be given to First United Methodist Church, Fort Atkinson.
Nitardy Funeral Home, Fort Atkinson assisted the family.
For online guestbook, visit www.nitardyfuneralhome.com.
