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Audrey J. Morrison

Visitation

5:00pm - 7:00pm
Thursday, January 12, 2023
O'Connell Family Funeral Home
130 North Grant St.
Ellsworth Wisconsin, 54011

Visitation

10:00am -
Friday, January 13, 2023
First Presbyterian Church of Red Wing
503 W 6th St,
Red Wing Minnesota, 55066

Funeral Service

11:00am -
Friday, January 13, 2023
First Presbyterian Church of Red Wing
503 W 6th St,
Red Wing Minnesota, 55066

Audrey Morrison died peacefully on January 4, 2023 at the age of 89.  Preceded in death by her mother and father, Irene and Stanley Olson and her brother, Gary Olson. Audrey’s first marriage was to Ted Bebee and they had one son, Steve Morrison.  They later divorced. Audrey met Leon, when her friend Estelle (Leon’s sister) brought Audrey to the family house to meet Leon to go to the dance at the Ellsworth Pavilion.  Leon remembers how beautiful she looked when she walked in the door in a brown dress.  Three months later they married on August 30, 1957, moving to the farm they purchased from George and Elsie Nelson in 1969.  Leon and Audrey celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in 2022. They had four boys, Steve (Nancy) Morrison, James, Michael (Pam) Morrison and Thomas (Missy) Morrison 8 grandchildren – Miranda Jreige (Chafic), Kastina, Astrid, Tyler, Jarek, Sean, Nicholas and Grant and 2 great grandchildren – Evelina and Leonardo.

Audrey grew up in Red Wing and her grandfather, Linus Olson, was sheriff in Red Wing.  Although her father, Stanley, owned taverns in Red Wing, Wacota and then Durand, WI, Audrey made the choice to never drink a drop of alcohol.

Audrey worked at the Red Wing Tannery in High School and later at the Red Wing Pottery.  This is where she found one of her hobbies – collecting Red Wing Pottery.  Her family did not have a car, so Audrey walked a mile – in all kinds of weather – to the Post Office where she would catch her ride to the pottery.

Audrey was strong, so strong, right until the end.  On the farm, she found herself carrying 40 lb bales of hay into a 66 ft feed bunk for 60+ head of cattle.  Audrey was a very petite woman and she was able to carry those bales.

When Leon got home from his job in St. Paul and the boys home from school, Audrey would go into the house and start preparing meals.  She only drove a tractor once, when her father-in-law, Ernie Morrison, told her that she would need to drive the tractor on the baler because the hay needed to be baled.  Those were the days where someone stood on a wagon that was attached to the baler and someone else stacked the bales as they came out of the baler.  Audrey was upset because Ernie did not explain the hand signals, such as speeding up or slowing down.

Audrey was a 4H leader and was very active with the Fancy Doers club.  She supported the members at the County Fair every year and she loved being at the fair. She played piano and the accordion and would share her talents for family at Christmas.  Audrey loved attending any event for her children and grandchildren – from motocross races/hill climbing, to wrestling tournaments, baseball and hockey games, to choir concerts, skating shows and plays.  Audrey loved the Minnesota Twins (her favorite player was Kent Hrbek) and loved watching the games, either in person or a few times at the stadium.

Audrey loved to travel and relished her time on these adventures.  She would be ready to pack up and go in a moment’s notice.  She loved going to Branson, Missouri to see her favorites, Daniel O’Donnell and the Statler Brothers.  Disney World was a favorite and she traveled there with her children and grandchildren.  Leon and Audrey took many trips together to Canada, our National Parks and even drove to Alaska and back.

Audrey was a caregiver throughout her life – for her own mother, then for Stella and Ernie (Leon’s parents), Leon, children and grandchildren.

Audrey will be forever remembered as a loving wife, strong advocate for her children, and a devoted and loving grandmother to her grandchildren.  Audrey was the glue that held the family together and she cherished the family birthdays, picnics, holidays and travels.  She will be greatly missed.

A Funeral Service for Audrey will be at 11:00am on Friday, January 13, 2023 at First Presbyterian Church of Red Wing: 503 W 6th St. Red Wing, MN 55066. The service will be livestreamed at: https://youtube.com/@firstpresbyterianchurchred7662.  A Visitation will be from 5:00pm to 7:00pm on Thursday, January 12, 2023 at O’Connell Family Funeral Home: 130 N Grant St. Ellsworth, WI 54011. There will be a visitation one hour prior to the service on Friday as well.

Services are entrusted to O’Connell Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ellsworth, www.oconnellfuneralhomes.com, 715-273-4421

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