On the evening of Oct. 28, 2013, Audrey Grady, 75, a long-time resident of Winnemucca, passed away peacefully with her loving husband Charles (Chuck) Grady by her side at Renown Medical Center in Reno, Nev.
She was born March 5, 1938, to her parents, Allan Faye and Beatrice Wallace Bitterman, in Cheyenne, Wyo. She grew up spending most of her childhood with her grandmother whom she loved and adored. Audrey attended school in Orange County, Calif., and on March 5, 1955, she married Jimmy Lavone Wells in Santa Anna, Calif. From this union would come four sons: Tony, Steve, David, and Chris Wells.
By 1962 the family was complete and Audrey, a full-time mother and housewife, would spend the next many years seeing to her sons having a good education and a loving home environment.
Audrey became an active participant at the schools in which her children attended. She was involved in as many activities and school functions as time would allow. She was well known by their classmates and their families and everyone loved her. She gained many friendships over those years that she maintained throughout her life.
In 1979 Audrey and Jimmy Wells divorced. It was then that two of her oldest friends, Carol Grady Gorney and Sharon Grady Vincent, decided to reunite Audrey with the guy she dated back in high school... "their big brother" who Audrey was crazy about. Chuck Grady, who lived in Nevada, was who they had in mind and they would work out a plan that would turn out to be "a match made in heaven" that would last a lifetime. The romance blossomed and in 1980 Chuck moved Audrey to Winnemucca, Nev., which she would call home for the rest of her life. His four kids agreed with their father's choice. She was sweet as she was kind, and Audrey became the mother of eight (six boys and two girls). Now she had a huge family and she made time for everyone.
Audrey's kids and Chuck's blended beautifully. The Gradys had a happy home, in which they would make welcome to all friends and classmates of the children. She made lots of friends and got herself quite the cool reputation with the towns people "she rocked." She had a knack for multi-tasking which served her very well in life. There wasn't anything she couldn't do. She was very creative, smart, and funny. She had a smile that would knock you blind and if she was in a bad mood you wouldn't know it. She was one of the most well-rounded individuals most people have ever known. She was tempered and very patient unless she had to repeat herself too many times. She made every minute of every day well worth it because she loved all. She adored Chuck and he the same to her which never changed the 40 years that they were together.
She took charge of her husband's business accounts that was a task in itself, but she welcomed the challenge. She worked for J.R. Simplot and retired after 13 years. She then went to work for Sexton Bros. at Mezotrace, then one of her very best friends Patty Ellfritz at Mad Hatter, who along with Kay Echogue and Florene Moon would become a big part of the family and us in theirs. Those ladies loved each other.
Another passion in Audrey's life other than her family was bowling, in which she was considered one of the town's best. She wasn't just good at it, she was great and her bowling ball smoked down the lane. She became secretary-treasurer of the town leagues at Spare Time Bowling. She bowled in both state and national championships over the years. Her and Chuck also bowled on team leagues and gave new meaning to the term "weapons of mass destruction." She was always at the top of her game. She was feared by most and respected by all and would come to be on the wall of fame at Spare Time.
It was an honor to know her and to have shared our lives with such a wonderful person. She is preceded in death by her parents Allan and Beatrice Wallace Bitterman and two grandchildren, Britanny Lynn Wells and Garrett Wayne Sweeney. She is survived by her husband Charles (Chuck) Grady of Winnemucca, her four sons Tony-Lynn, Steve-Laura, David-Heidi, and Chris-Kristene Wells, all of Orange County, Calif.; sons Tim and Kelly Grady and daughters Jodi and Cindy Grady, all of Winnemucca. She had 19 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren whom she adored. Her great aunt Barbara Keen of Virginia, cousin Bob Wallace of Lake Tahoe, her mother and father in law Thelma and J.W. Clinard of Orange County, Calif. Paddy, Wanda, and Shaun, her half siblings, numerous sister and brother in laws, cousins, nieces and nephews and the one who might miss her the most her little dog Tazzarena who devoted every waking moment to her mother. Audrey will be forever missed by all.
Audrey's wishes were to be cremated and there will be a celebration of her life held later this week in Orange County, Calif., following another one here the week following date TBD and will be announced as soon as plans are finalized. The family asks that you not send flowers, but that donations to any organization of your choice be made in her name. She loved her life, her family, friends, and her little dog Taz. She will forever remain on our hearts and may she rest in eternal peace...[[In-content Ad]]
