Audrey Mae Ritter (Ferrell), 90, of Union, passed away on Tuesday, November 22, 2022, at St. Clair Nursing Center in St. Clair.

Audrey, daughter of Lyle Ferrell and his wife Pauline (Neal), was born on September 15, 1932 in St. Louis.

She married Daniel Fuller on June 10, 1956 and divorced in 1971.

She was united in marriage to Sanford "Sam" Ritter on March 28, 1998, at Blessed Savior Lutheran Church in O'Fallon, Illinois.

Audrey was a fan of books-all books but if she found a curse word, she would mark it out with a black pen saving any others who might read the book someday. Her genres of choice were Christian non-fiction, Christian romances—only the ones her daughter wrote, true crime and mysteries. Audrey worked as a telephone operator, the Barn Dinner Theater, and Walmart before retiring.

In her younger years, she sewed clothes for her children and helped her sisters and mother with quilting. She was an avid scrabble player and played to win. She and Sam spent hours playing UNO. Her challenge was to beat Sam but wasn't always successful and she kept a score of who won the most. She enjoyed word search puzzles, jokes, and Jeopardy and America's Got Talent. She wasn't a gardener but loved getting and looking at flowers, her favorites were chrysanthemums. But hand her a baby to hold, and her face would light up in joy.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lyle and Pauline Ferrell; four sons, Daniel Fuller, David Fuller, Karl Fuller, Coley Ritter; one son-in-law, John Lesire; one brother, Harold Ferrell; four sisters, Dortha Cocker, Wanda Brown, Francis Wilson, and Bonnie Shevlin.

Audrey is survived by her husband, Sam Ritter; two sons, Greg Ritter and Janell of St. Clair, Kelly Ritter of Missouri; two daughters, Diana Brandmeyer and husband Ed of O'Fallon, Illinois, Samantha Ritter-Starks of Union; daughter-in-law Linda Ritter of Union;  ten grandchildren, Angie Ritter, Scottie Ritter, Jason Ritter, John Cowsert and wife Donnyel, Casey Breig and husband Adam, Olivia Ritter, Benjamin Lesire and wife Sara, Joshua Lesire and wife Brianna, Andrew Brandmeyer, Karla Fuller;  10 great-grandchildren; forever friend, Sandra Canida; nieces; nephews; other relatives and many friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to:

St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 208 W Springfield Ave., Union, MO 63084

or

St. Jude's https://www.stjude.org/donate/srch/st-jude-donation.html

or

Basic Dignities, 1318 Baylor Ct., Naperville, IL 60565. Or online at https://www.basicdignities.org/donate please select soy water project and write in memory of Audrey Ritter in the donate box.