Audra Eileen Strecker, age 86, was born October 17, 1923, in Bazine, to Herman Schaben and Florence Olson-Schaben. Audra lived in Bazine until 1953, then moved to Ness City, where she resided until 2008. She then moved to Amarillo, TX, to reside at the Park Central/Harrington Assisted Living, to be near her daughter, Candace.

Audra peacefully left this earth, to join her Lord and her beloved husband, on March 12. Candace, and grandson Paul, were at her side at BSA hospital in Amarillo.
January 25, 1944, she was united in marriage to Arthur Herman Strecker, in Norfolk, VA, during Artie's service in the Navy. Their first date was a Bazine high school football banquet during Audra's sophomore year and Artie's senior year. As she wrote in a memory book for her great-granddaughters, she was "on cloud nine"! Audra and Artie shared 31 years of marriage until his death in 1975.

Audra worked as a bookkeeper/secretary for the Kansas Power Company in the early years. Artie and Audra opened the John Deere dealership in Ness City in 1954. She was the bookkeeper for the John Deere house and for the Buick-Chevrolet-Oldsmobile dealership acquired later.

She also served, as a member, the First Baptist Church of Ness City. Audra was the pianist and organist for the church for many years. She served as Treasurer for more than 40 years. She held office for the WCTU and was an officer for the American Baptist Women at the National and local level.

Audra was a past member of the American Legion Auxiliary and ESA.
She was an avid traveler and had visited all seven continents on numerous exciting trips.

Audra was preceded in death by her husband, Artie, and her son, Paul Elliot Strecker. Also preceding her death were sisters, Darla Gaye Schaben and Ila Clapp, and brother Cletus Schaben.

She is survived by her daughter, Candace Marsh, grandsons Paul Hearing of New York, NY and A.J. Hearing, and wife Jennie, of Oakland, CA. Giving her much joy, A.J. and Jennie gave Audra two great-granddaughters, Sienna and Amber. Also surviving are sisters Carol Allen, Ottawa, Celesta Cole, Youngtown, AZ, Donna Thomason, Beaumont, TX, and Marlene Wyatt, Penn Valley, CA. Brothers surviving are Adrian Schaben, Independence, Bob Schaben, Amarillo, TX, and Troy Schaben, Kennewick, WA. Audra is survived by 21 nieces and nephews and many more extended family.

Memorial services for Audra will be held March 26, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Ness City. Internment will be at the Bazine cemetery following the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorials in memory of Audra, to the First Baptist Church Roofing Fund. Make checks payable to: First Baptist Church. Memorials may be given to Fitzgerald Funeral Home or Pastor King of the First Baptist Church.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.fitzgeraldfuneral.com.