Audrey Lucille Cull

AUDREY LUCILLE CULL Audrey was the matriarch court jester of her family. She was never at a loss for words. She used her quick wit, sense of humor, and artistic sarcasm to communicate her feelings. Her love of language began when her sister Linda showed her how to take words apart; which developed into playing word games, and zipping through an inordinate amount of crossword puzzles, even as her mind was failing her. On March 8, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois, Audrey Lucille was born to Albert and Elizabeth Brueckman. She was the youngest of five children. At a young age, she learned to play the accordion and was known as the nieces and nephews favorite babysitter. In 1958 Audrey married, Edward Michael Cull. To this union, four children were born. Audrey was an extremely creative and “hands on” mother. She was a Girl Scout leader, Cub Scout leader, baseball scorekeeper, and room mother all while working part-time as a bookkeeper. Halloween and Christmas provided the perfect opportunities for her to use her creative skills. The stories of her infamous Halloween costumes and Christmas scavenger hunts became holiday story telling legacies. She went through extraordinary lengths to ensure her children had wonderful holiday memories. In 1975 Audrey reluctantly left her comfortable lifestyle in the Chicago suburbs to support her husband’s dream of owning a resort at the Lake of the Ozarks. After a four-year struggle they sold the resort and purchased a motel in the area. The motel business was more successful but sadly after four years the love of her life, Eddie, lost his battle with cancer. As a single woman in 1989, Audrey opened a new chapter of her life by relocating to St. Louis and began her 15 years of service to the Missouri Department of Mental Health. There she made many new friends and reconnected with old friends. After retirement Audrey relocated back to the lake to be closer to her youngest daughter and her children. She enjoyed attending Christopher and Tyler’s school events and watch Shelby play basketball. Her grandchildren were always on her mind, except for the time she left Christopher and Tyler in the parking lot of the grocery store while they put her cart up. She loved to bake and when she did Tyler was by her side, licking the bowls and spoons and helping her make her famous apple and cherry slices. Grandma taught Shelby how to eat burgers with fries on them and the fast and easy way to do crossword puzzles. In 2008 Audrey decided the lake area was not for her and returned to the St. Louis area to be closer to her mental health friends. As Audrey began to struggle more with her dementia, the family chose to move her to an independent living community near her oldest son in Utah. While there she made many new friends and enjoyed a new level of independence. Her relocation allowed her to be closer to her son’s family and the girls were grateful to have her close by once again. “Grandmumps” taught Devynne how to parallel park when no one else could; mentored Skylar in finding a future husband by advising her to “marry a rich man”; and shared make up tips with Jennison. Devynne said it best, “She inspired all of us to live in the moment, and be happy regardless of what life throws at you.” Sadly, on March 20, 2015, Audrey lost her battle to Alzheimer’s with her Utah family by her side. She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Elizabeth Brueckman; her siblings, Ernie Brueckman, Linda Brueckman, Bertha Oblak and Emil Brueckman; and her husband Edward Cull. She is survived by her children Laura Cull, of Conway, Missouri; Laurence Cull and wife Meg, of Salt Lake City, Utah; Michael Cull of Union, Missouri; and Angel Quade and husband Jack of Camdenton, Missouri. The light of her life grandchildren, Devynne Cull, Christopher Beauchamp, Tyler Beauchamp, Skylar Cull, Shelby Beauchamp and Jennison Cull; Brandon Quade and Erin Quade. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.