WOOSTER – Audrey L. Beaverson, 90, of Wooster died March 31, 2019 following a period of declining health. She leaves behind a legacy of generous giving to the Wayne County community.
Audrey was raised in Wayne County along with her three brothers, Al, Clifford and Richard Ratzel. Brother Richard (Judy) of Wooster survives along with sisters-in-law Ina Ratzel of Slidel, LA and, Phyllis Jean Ratzel, of Wooster, Ohio. On March 22, 1952, Audrey married Kenneth E. Beaverson. He died in an accident in September 1984. Three of his five siblings survive Audrey: sister Joan (Beaverson) Matheny of Massillon, OH: sister Mary Lou (Beaverson) Preston of Port Huron, MI and brother Wilbur (Barbara) Beaverson of Shreve, OH. Brothers Dwight Beaverson, and Wayne Beaverson died previously.
Together Ken and Audrey founded several successful businesses centered around trucking, transportation and warehousing. One of those companies, Wooster Motor Ways, Inc., remains an important part of the Wayne County community.
Following her husband s death, Audrey assumed control of the family business interests with the help of key long time employees. She was one of Wayne County s earlier women chief executives at a time when there were very few. In 1987, Wooster Motor Ways Inc. and related businesses were sold to the family of the present day owners of Wooster Motor Ways-the Williams family with whom she maintained a close relationship since the time of the sale.
In the years following the sale of the business and real estate interests, Audrey turned her energies to various charitable organizations in Wayne County. She became financial supporter of the Wayne County Fire & Rescue Association. She was honored on several occasions for this support, most recently in June 2018. At the time of her death, she was serving as the Honorary Chair of the Rescue Association s ongoing Chief Campaign; a $ 2.7 million capital campaign that will run through December of 2019. She was also involved for decades with Wooster Community Hospital funding what became known as the Beaverson Institute at the Wooster Community Hospital which focused on the delivery of emergency services to the community. She created and headed a private foundation known as the Beaverson Foundation which allowed her to support a number of other Wayne County nonprofit organizations.
It was also a well-known secret that she was one of the first few phone calls that Stan Gault made when he was leading local community fund raising projects.
In 2017 Audrey was named to the Wooster Chamber of Commerce Wall of Fame an honor she accepted with slight reluctance as she was modest about her achievements and preferred to tend to her business and philanthropic interests quietly and mostly out of public view.
Audrey stewarded her financial assets living a modest lifestyle and giving back to the Wayne County community. She lived a life of gratitude committed to serving others with the financial resources she controlled but never regarded as her own. For this and many other unmentioned acts of kindness and generosity, she will be greatly missed.
Mass of the Christian Burial with Father Stephen Moran officiating will be held 10:00 am on Friday, April 5, 2019 at St. Mary s Catholic Church, Wooster, OH. The public is invited.
McIntire, Bradham & Sleek Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill St., Wooster is assisting the family.
Memorial contributions may be made in her honor to either the Beaverson Foundation Community Fund at the Wayne County Community Foundation, 517 North Market Street Wooster, OH or Ohio s Hospice LifeCare, 1900 Akron Rd., Wooster, Ohio 44691.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.mcintirebradhamsleek.com
Memorial Contributions
the Beaverson Foundation Community Fund at the Wayne County Community Foundation, 517 North Market Street Wooster, OH or Ohio s Hospice LifeCare, 1900 Akron Rd., Wooster, Ohio 44691.
Service
Mass of the Christian Burial with Father Stephen Moran officiating will be held 10:00 am on Friday, April 5, 2019 at St. Mary s Catholic Church, Wooster, OH.
Visitation
We Have lost a Great woman and a Good friend. My prayers and sympathy go out to all the family. We enjoyed many good times with Audrey. We will miss her.
will miss her always a great customer and will miss our fun conversions
I used to clean house for Audrey. She was a wonderful person to work for and I will truly miss her.
Ceclia Gilt
Audrey is the sister I did not have. She was kind, loving and caring of all, especially animals for whom she had several. She never expected any praise or reward for her acts of goodness.
My deepest sympathy in the loss of Audrey. What a wonderful, compassionate, woman she was. May she rest in peace with Ken at long last. Wooster has lost a great supporter of our lovely city…..she will certainly be missed.
My Aunt Audrey and Uncle Kenny will and have been missed, by the Beaverson Family and I’m sure the Ratzel side too. When I was at Military School in San Diego, I answered a knock on my Dorm door, and it was Aunt Audrey. Kenny and her had flown out to Texas for plane parts and decided to fly into San Diego, to see me and take me out for dinner. All of Audrey and Kenny’s nieces and nephews have stories like mine, I’m sure, Again and again with airplane rides, or a weekends at Kelley’s Island cabin, they shared their blessings with all. Thank You Uncle Kenny and Aunt Audrey for your Love to us and to your support to the Wayne County Community.
A sweet quiet woman with a ready smile and very kind disposition. She had a quick wit and was actually quite funny once you got to know her! I am truly sorry for her loss at this time and my prayers and condolences are with the Ratzel and Beaverson family’s.
It was sad to learn of Aunt Audrey’s failing health and passing as I returned from a vacation. Like my cousin Pat Matheny has stated memories made with Aunt Audrey and Uncle Kenny on Kelly’s Island, plane rides on Thanksgiving, plane rides to weddings or to Florida, or just coming yo get us to go to the fish fry at the Elks Club or out to a spaghetti dinner, short visits at family reunions will always be in our minds. Every time I am with my son, whom We learned was on the way when we lost Uncle Kenny and I told Aunt Audrey if our child was a boy, his name would be Kenneth after Uncle Kenny and in honor of all that he and she ment to me while growing up. She was honored and very happy and every year I sent her pictures and updates on his life. She and Uncle Kenny will always be in my heart and close by and dearly missed.
It was sad to learn of Aunt Audrey’s failing health and passing as I returned from a vacation. Like my cousin Pat Matheny has stated memories made with Aunt Audrey and Uncle Kenny on Kelly’s Island, plane rides on Thanksgiving, plane rides to weddings or to Florida, or just coming yo get us to go to the fish fry at the Elks Club or out to a spaghetti dinner, short visits at family reunions will always be in our minds. Every time I am with my son, whom We learned was on the way when we lost Uncle Kenny and I told Aunt Audrey if our child was a boy, his name would be Kenneth after Uncle Kenny and in honor of all that he and she ment to me while growing up. She was honored and very happy and every year I sent her pictures and updates on his life. She and Uncle Kenny will always be in my heart and close by and dearly missed.
Audrey was our dear neighbor and close friend for many years. We also had the good fortune to know Ina, who has our deepest sympathy as does the entire family.