Audrey Mae (Ingram) Edelman

Audrey Mae Ingram Edelman met her Lord and Savior face-to-face on Friday, September 16, 2022. Born in Longview, Texas, on February 8, 1925, Audrey was the eldest child of H. Roy Ingram and Minnie Mae Hopper Ingram. Brother Charles Ingram was born the following year, and baby brother Bill Ingram arrived in 1940. “Augie,” to her family, was raised in a Christian home, and deeply loved her parents and brothers.

Growing up in the countryside of Hallsville, Texas, Audrey Mae learned to drive a car at age 11. She excelled in her studies in the Forest Hill community’s one-room schoolhouse. Audrey then attended Hallsville High School, where she was a member of the Honor Society, served as a senior class officer, and was a member of the yearbook staff. She graduated Salutatorian of her HHS class in 1943.

At the College of Marshall, Audrey met the love of her life, Marvin Ray Edelman, of Waskom. Ray worked diligently to earn Audrey’s affection. His efforts were rewarded when they became engaged in 1944. USMC Corporal Ray Edelman and Miss Audrey Mae Ingram were married January 26, 1945, in the Monday Parlor of First Baptist Church, Longview. They first moved to San Diego, where Audrey worked as a secretary at Miramar in San Diego, while Ray was stationed at Camp Pendleton. Later, Audrey was employed at a bank in Jacksonville, Florida, after Ray was stationed in the area.

With Ray’s discharge from the Marines following the end of World War II, the young couple was eager to return to East Texas. In 1947, Ray and Audrey, along with Ray’s brother, Howard, established Greggton Furniture Company, now known as Edelman Design. Audrey could often be found “helping out at the store” on Saturdays, while she held a full-time position at CIT during the week.

With the arrival of son, Thomas Ray, and later, daughter, Karen Kay, Audrey focused her energies on being a homemaker. Her family was blessed by her delicious meals, and they were spoiled by always having two or three scratch-made deserts on the kitchen counter. The Edelman home was warm, welcoming, and no one left there hungry.

Ray and Audrey enjoyed almost 69 years of marriage, until Ray’s death in 2013. Although Audrey missed Ray terribly the last 9 years of her life, she did not feel sorry for herself; rather, she appreciated every year she and Ray were together, because many married couples of The Greatest Generation were not so fortunate.

Community service was important to Audrey. In addition to being an active member and Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church, Longview, she was a long-time member of the Century II Porcelain Art Club, and a local Bible Club. She volunteered with The American Cancer Society; The American Heart Association; Pine Tree PTA, serving a term as president; County Council; and Good Shepherd Hospital, where she volunteered for more than 40 years. Ever the innovator and up-cycler, Audrey took discontinued upholstery samples from their store, and sewed pocket-bags to be hung on walkers utilized in the rehab department at Good Shepherd Hospital. December-born babies were sent home from Good Shepherd in giant red Christmas stockings Audrey had lovingly sewed. She also created beautiful hand-painted porcelain items for many years, and at one time, employed three kilns to accommodate her productions.

Audrey was equipped with the spiritual gift of comforting those who had suffered a tragedy or loss. Her faith was firm. Audrey accepted Christ as her Savior at a very young age, believing Jesus is the Son of God, and that He died to save each of us from the penalty of our sins. Audrey embodied the Scripture, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” – Colossians 3:23. Her motto was, “If you’re going to do something, do it right.”

Surviving Audrey are her brother and sister-in-law Bill and Sylvia Ingram, Baytown, Texas; son and daughter-in-law, Thomas and Clover Edelman, Longview; daughter and son-in-law Karen and James Cundiff, Longview; grandson LCDR Paul T. Edelman, USN, his wife, Charity, and children Grace Audrey, 8, and Thomas Adley, 5, Norfolk, VA; grandson Braden A. Cundiff, Houghton, MI; grand-daughter Angelia Cundiff Blythe, her husband, Dr. Greg Blythe, and their children, Rebecca Evelyn, 5, Judson Dale, 3, Lucas John, 18 months, and Lily Christine, 18 months, Cedar Rapids, IA; and countless cousins, nieces, nephews, and their children.

The family wishes to thank compassionate caregivers Bertha Butler, Grant Lundstedt, Rotsakan Bunsin, Katelyn Davis, Kimberli Scoggins, Natasha Pleasant, Nathan Pilcher, Jake Dodd, Yvette Murphy, Griselda Garcia, Stephanie Hesley, R.N., Lisa Scrimpsher, FNP, and Audrey’s long-time physician and friend, Carl Earnest, M.D. Thanks also goes to Dr. Rick Webb, Buckner Chaplain, for being there when we most needed comfort. The kindness and care all of you extended to our mother, and to us, will not be forgotten.

Arrangements are under the direction of Welch Funeral Home, Longview, Texas. Family visitation will be Wednesday, September 21, from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., with the Life Celebration scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Thursday, September 22. Both events will be held at Welch Funeral Home, 4619 Judson Road. The service will be live-streamed on www.cammackfamily.com.

Those who wish to honor Audrey’s memory are asked to please consider memorial donations to one of the following charities: First Baptist Church, Longview, Widows’ Knight Ministry, attention Vickie Brewer, 209 East South Street, Longview, TX 75601; Senior Care and Assistance, Buckner Westminster Place, 2201 Horseshoe Lane, Longview, TX 75605; or The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, North Texas Chapter, 4040 North Central Expressway, Suite 810, Dallas, TX 75204-3103.