Audrey Hope Franke, 86, of Hanford, California, died peacefully of natural causes on the evening of February 22, 2015 in Ocean Shores, Washington at the home of her devoted son and daughter-in-law, Brad and Trish Franke.

She was born on Oct. 30, 1928 in Methuen, Massachusetts, as the youngest of three children, to Theodore and Annie Ackroyd. In 1946, Audrey graduated from Searles High School in Methuen. She developed a love for reading that continued until the day she died. She was often heard saying, “As long as I have my books, I will be happy.”

Audrey and Ernest L. Franke met at California State University Humboldt and married the next year in Methuen, Mass. on Dec. 4, 1948. Soon after, they settled in Sacramento, CA where they raised their four children. Audrey worked from home as a bookkeeper for the family owned business and volunteered many years of service to the North Sacramento Lion's Club and Lion's auxiliary.

A trip to Europe ignited a desire to learn more about history. So when Audrey returned home, she enrolled in college earning an AA degree in 1968 from American River Jr. College and a BA degree in History in 1971 from California State University Sacramento.

Family vacations across the country, were never the same after that, as Audrey became the family's self appointed tour guide. Trips were planned around landmarks, historic sites, battlefields, and cemeteries. All too often there was a cry from the back of the vehicle exclaiming, “Not another cemetery!”

Audrey took even more classes and was awarded a Travel and Tourism Certificate in 1985. She continued her traveling making friends throughout the world. As she got older, she looked forward to Elderhostels and the classes they offered. She completed 44 Elderhostel trips. Audrey also found comfort in researching genealogy and was able to trace the family lines back numerous generations. She enthusiastically volunteered at Kaiser Permanente, the American Cancer Society, and at the California State Fair.

In 2005, Audrey moved to Hanford, CA where she loved her Bible study classes and the exchange of ideas that took place there. She helped at Lakeside Elementary School with an after school tutoring program and took delight in providing transportation for different ladies at both the Presbyterian and Methodist churches.

Audrey was preceded in death by her parents, Theodore and Annie (Howard) Ackroyd; her husband, Ernest L. Franke; and her daughter-in-law, Sky Seguin. Audrey is survived by her sister, Alice (Ackroyd) Fogle and her brother and his wife, Theodore and Ethyl Ackroyd; also by her four children and their spouses: Gail and Keith Backman, Janet Franke, Brad and Trish Franke, and Ross and Rhonda Franke, plus her eight grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and her best friend Harold Bleicher.

A celebration of Audrey's life will be held at 2:00 PM, on March 14, 2015, in Founders Hall at the First United Methodist Church, 505 N. Redington Street Hanford, CA 93230. Donations may be sent to the Hanford First United Methodist Church.

Audrey was a loving, caring woman who will be greatly missed.