Service measured not by GOLD,
                           but by the GOLDEN RULE

Service measured not by GOLD,
          but by the GOLDEN RULE

330.262.7771

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

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