Audra Noecker, 73

Audra Kay (Blood) Noecker, age 73, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Saturday morning, May 11, 2013, at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor, Mich., following a long illness with cancer and an abdominal surgery from which she failed to recover.

She was born Dec. 3, 1939, daughter of the late Ora Anson and Marjorie (Sweazy) Blood.

Audra was preceded in death by her parents; brother-in-law, Floyd “Doc” Veasy; and her beloved father-in-law, Paul F. Noecker.

She is survived by her loving sister, Lois (Blood) Veasy of Sturgis. She is also survived by her husband, James Paul Noecker; and her following loving children and grandchildren: daughter: Audora (Audra + Ora = Audora) and James Burg of Sturgis and grandchildren: Rachel Elise Smith; Andrew “Andy” James Burg, her “bag of bones” granddaughter: Anna Rose Burg; and grandson: Paul James Burg; daughter: Ann F. and Joseph Blouin of Redding, Calif., and grandchildren: Madeleine “Maddy” Blouin; Grace “Gracie” Blouin and Joseph “Joey” Blouin; her favorite (if only) son: Paul Anson and Kitt Noecker of Fort Campbell, Ky., and grandson: James Paul Noecker and a whole host of loving nieces, nephews and cousins of the Blood and Perrin families.

Audra lived a phenomenally successful life. In addition to having successfully raised three loving children, and leaving by them, eight wonderful and loving grandchildren, she experienced a long, exciting, and successful career. After graduating from St. Joseph School of Nursing in Houghton-Hancock, Michigan in 1962 with a degree in registered nursing, she worked in various nursing positions in hospitals in Manhattan (1962-1969), where among other duties she worked in cancer research.

She left New York in 1969 for a visit with her parents, when she met her husband, Jim, and was married soon after. After initially raising her children until school age, in addition to working as a mother, she worked in various nursing capacities.

At the age of 48 she ventured alone, demonstrating immense personal courage, to China, Korea, Thailand, and Malaysia where she secured contracts to import latex examination gloves, which (under the name Audra Gloves You, a/k/a Audra, Inc.) she retailed latex gloves mainly to the dental industry for 25 years until her onset with cancer.

She was slightly eccentric, but a wholly memorable character, who loved wearing hats festooned with birds, flowers, and peacock feathers (from her own flock), traveling, fishing, playing cards, telling stories – some of which were true! – but most of all she loved being in her “nest” at home, surrounded by an audience of family and friends eager to hear her stories and laugh with her. She will be sorely missed by her family and many friends.

The family will receive friends from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at the Hackman Family Funeral Homes – Rosenberg Chapel, 807 E. Chicago Rd., Sturgis, MI 49091, 269-651-3284. Funeral services celebrating the life of Audra Noecker will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church in Sturgis. The Rev. Deb Johnson of the First United Methodist Church and The Rev. Canon Meredith Hunt of the St. John’s Episcopal Church will officiate. A graveside committal will follow the service at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis.

The family suggests in lieu of flowers memorial donation be directed to the First United Methodist Church, 200 Pleasant Ave., Sturgis, MI 49091 or the S. John’s Episcopal Church, 110 S. Clay St., Sturgis, MI 49091.

The obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhome.com where personal messages of support may be left for the family.