Obituary of Audrey W. James

Audrey W. James, 91, of Austinburg, PA, passed way suddenly at her home on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. Born in Austinburg on October 23 1933, Audrey was the daughter of the late Coral and Lela Cook Wakley. She attended school in Knoxville until the merger of Westfield and Knoxville schools into Cowanesque Valley High School. She was a member of the first graduating class of the merged district in 1951. As a senior in high school, Audrey was selected as the annual Queen of Hearts at Cowanesque. On January 4, 1954, she and LaRue W. James were married in Maryland. They shared 71 years as a very loving couple. As a young woman, Audrey worked at the former Galeton Glove Factory. She later began a career of over 30 years as a bank teller at Commonwealth Bank in Westfield. Audrey enjoyed playing golf and she and LaRue were members of the River Valley Golf Club in Westfield. Surviving is her husband, LaRue James of Austinburg, her children, Curtis James of Shermansdale, PA, Kelley (Paul) Simpson of Newark, NY and Chris James (Mary Tuttle) of Sayre, PA, her grandchildren, Tony (Katelyn) James, Samantha James, Devan Anthony, Keith Cady (Laura Baxter), Chelsie Webster, Alexa (Greg) Elderkin, Mitch James and Adam (Jennifer) James, 12 great grandchildren, her brother-in-law, Russell James of Ely, NV and several nieces and nephews. Audrey was preceded in death by her parents, Coral and Lela Wakley, her brother and sister-in-law, Garfield and Betty Wakley and her daughter-in-law, Mindy James. Funeral services will be held privately. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Austinburg, PA. Arrangements are with the H.P. Smith & Son Funeral Home in Woodhull, NY.