Funeral services for Audrey Marlene Summers will be held on Saturday, June 15, 2013 at 1:00 PM at the Christ Community Church in Crawford with Reverend Grant Curtis officiating. Burial will immediately follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Chadron.
Audrey Marlene Summers, “Itchy”, to all of her friends, age, 77, of Crawford, NE went to be with Jesus on June 10, 2013 after a long fought battle with sickness.
Audrey was born on March 31, 1936 in Hardin, MT to Clarence Dee Allen and Birdie Mae Standish Allen. Audrey was welcomed home by two big brothers, Cletus, and Lyle (Babe) Allen. Later on she was blessed with a little sister, Sandra Kay.
Audrey spent her early childhood days near Lodge Grass, MT and Sheridan, WY. She enjoyed her grandparents and her many aunts, uncles and cousins in the area and kept in contact with them through the years, visiting them whenever the opportunity arose. At a young age she became affectionately known as Itch, a name that many of her friends and family used throughout her life. Although how she acquired that special name would remain a mystery, it may have originated from a Native word depicting beautiful. She was a beautiful little girl, full of energy and fun and she began at an early age proving she could hold her own in any situation or conversation.
Audrey moved with her parents and brothers to the Nebraska panhandle for a short time and from there the family went to Oglala, SD. It was near Oglala that Audrey began her grade school days. The little white, one room schoolhouse provided her education as well as many childhood and lifelong friends. High school days for Audrey began in Chadron where she lived with her mother and siblings during the school year, returning home to Oglala during the summer vacation months. She enjoyed her school life and her new friends and, again, kept those friends close to her heart throughout her life. Love also found Audrey during this time when she met her beloved husband of nearly sixty years, Lew Summers. She chased that boy until he caught her and they were married in Chadron on September 4, 1953.
To this beautiful union was born Jody Lynn, Vicki Lou, Jamie Lee, Tammy Kay, Lewis Wayne Jr., Allen Wade, Lisa Dawn, Michael Lloyd, Steven Gregg, Robert Todd, Darla Rae, Leslie Jo, Tracy Ann and Jeffrey Miles.
Audrey’s life was dedicated to her children and grandchildren. If people had one word to describe Audrey it would have been Mom, not only to her own children but to any strays that needed a mama’s love. She enjoyed bowling, playing games and playing jokes on all she met. Audrey loved her community of Crawford and enjoyed her many friends, especially, Pat and Gladys.
Audrey is survived by her husband, Lewis Summers, sister Sandra and husband Dennis of Rapid City, SD, her brother Cletus of Wheatland, WY and brother Lyle of Pringle, SD and her children, Jody Weinmeister and her husband Bill of Morrill, NE and her children Shawn, Shane, Shad, Shelby and four grandchildren; Vicki Deans of Crawford, NE and her children, Beau and Cassie, Josh and Melissa, Amber and nine grandchildren; Jamie Summers of Crawford, NE; Tammy Lujan and husband Ruben of Fort Lupton, CO and her children Sandra and Jon, Tonya and Matt, Alisa and Erik and nine grandchildren; Barb Summers of North Richland Hills, TX and her children Jamie, Natasha and Pat, Matthew, Brianna and one grandchild; Allen Jr., James, Lewis and Ashley, Joseph and Amber, Caleb, Jessica and Laryn and fifteen great grandchildren; Lisa Lineback of Lincoln, NE and her daughter Tiffany and two grandchildren; Michael and Kathy Summers of Martell, NE and their children, Lorraine, Mike, Ann, Larry, Brenda, Matt, Cheryl, nine grandchildren and nine great grandchildren; Steve and Sandy Summers of Chadron, NE; Darla and husband Bryan Hornby of Lincoln, NE and their children, Jonathon, Nicolas, Christopher, Paige, Benjamin and Faith; Leslie and husband Jim of Crawford, NE and their children Megan and Nathanael, Jeffrey, Brittany and Nic, Zachary, Jeremiah and two grandchildren; Tracy and boyfriend Bo of Crawford, NE and their children Andrew, Audreanna, Addison, Alyson, Austin and BoBo.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Birdie, sister-in-laws Joyce and Jackie and her sons, Wayne, Allen, Robert and Jeffrey and son-in-law Larry Nedella.
A memorial has been established for the First Love Ministries. Donations may be sent to Chamberlain Chapel, PO Box 970, Chadron, NE 69337
Online condolences can be made at www.chamberlainchapel.com
Chamberlain Chapel of Crawford is in charge of arrangements.