Audrey Hoffman

Audrey Hoffman usually looked like a walking fashion plate: classy style, crisp and meticulously ironed clothes, and never a hair out of place. Her true beauty, however, came from within. Generous, warm-hearted, and kind to everyone she met, Audrey never met someone she couldn’t befriend.

Audrey was born on March 7, 1932, in Joy, Arkansas. Her proud parents were Wesley Earl and Pearlie Irene (Higgs) Wootten. The Woottens were cotton farmers, and Audrey often helped out on the farm, milking the cows before she went to school in the morning. Audrey grew up in a fairly large family, with four siblings to make life interesting: J.W., Maxine, Rita, and Sandy. Pearlie was a hard-working mother, and sometimes stern, making sure her five children toed the line. During the war, she was a “Rosie the Riveter,” taking over manufacturing work while the men were overseas. Wesley, on the other hand, was a softie, and Audrey was a real daddy’s girl. Audrey only ever got one spanking from her father – that was when she scared him by pretending that she had lockjaw.

Joy was a small, rural town, and Audrey walked five miles to attend school (uphill both ways). In her free time, she enjoyed playing baseball and basketball with the boys, and working with her daddy in the fields. Her closest friend as a child was her cousin, Bobbie Wootten (McGinty). Bobbie would visit her cousin’s house whenever her (Bobbie’s) father was out of town, sharing her new “store bought” clothes with Audrey. In later years, the Wootten family moved to Michigan, where Wesley worked for Chrysler.

Audrey married her first husband when she was seventeen years old. Although they later divorced, their marriage was blessed by the births of five children: Ernie, Bob, Charlotte, Jim and Michelle. Audrey was a supportive mother, and always attended her children’s sporting events. Family was the first priority in Audrey’s life, and her happiest moments were spent with her children, and later her grandchildren.

Despite the demands of raising five children, Audrey always kept up her appearance (“If my hair looks good, I feel good”), and one day she caught the eye of a certain Harold Hoffman. Harold soon discovered that in additional to her beauty, Audrey also had a great sense of humor and a kind heart. The two soon fell in love, and in 1971 Audrey and Harold were married in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In 1978, Audrey and Harold moved to Arizona. Audrey found a job as a supervisor at the Pointe at Tapatio Cliffs Resort, which she held for many years. She also helped to build and establish Grace Lutheran Church in Black Canyon City, Arizona. At home, Audrey loved to bake and garden. Christmas was her shining hour – every year she and her daughter, Charlotte baked over twenty kinds of cookies, breads and cakes, and everyone she knew would receive a delicious cookie care-package! Audrey loved exchanging presents, and whenever she received a gift, no matter whether it was a diamond or a candy bar, her eyes always sparkled with excitement. In her free time, Audrey was also active in the Lioness Club and the Alpena ACS Relay for Life Dragonfly Team.

Audrey retired at the age of 62, and spent her golden years doing the things she loved. She often traveled, usually to visit her children, grandchildren, and sister, Maxine. At home, she still loved to garden and bake, and enjoyed visiting the casino on the weekends. Audrey also made time to cook, clean, and care for elderly friends who were no longer able to do everything for themselves.

Sadly, in July of 2001 Harold, Audrey’s beloved companion of thirty-five years, passed away. A few years later, Audrey moved to Alpena, Michigan, where she could be close to her daughter, Michelle.

Warm, kind and generous, Audrey Hoffman was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by her many friends and family members.

Audrey Zelma Hoffman died on March 19, 2012, at the age of 80. Her family includes her children, Ernest (Diane) Blanton of Macomb, MI, Robert (Anita) Blanton of Spring Hill, FL, Charlotte (Scott) Green of Peoria, AZ, James (Sharon) Blanton of Black Canyon, AZ, and Michelle Hoffman & Diane Safford of Alpena; her grandchildren; Beth (Ben) Goldstein, Chase Blanton, and Rachel Blanton; her sisters, Maxine DeBruce of Duarte, CA, and Sandy Bondar of Metamora, MI; and a number of cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sister, Rita Mattish, and her brother, J.W. Wootten.

Audrey is at McWilliams Funeral Home – Alpena, where friends may call on Friday, March 23, from 2:00 p.m. until the time of the funeral service at 6:00 p.m. Rev. Martha Hartman will officiate. Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Michigan or the Huron Humane Society. Please visit Audrey’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can learn more about her life, share a favorite memory or photo, and sign the online guestbook.