Audrey L. Hesser, church secretary for the First United Methodist Church in Aberdeen for 40 years, died at her home in Aberdeen Sunday, April 22, 2012. Audrey was born in Castle Rock, WA July 7, 1920, the daughter of Clarence and Bessie (Ott) Dougherty. She graduated from high school in Castle Rock in 1938 and attended college at Eastern Washington College in Cheney. On a bus ride from Castle Rock to Portland, Audrey met a young soldier from Ft. Lewis. His name was Erwin “Erv” Hesser and he would not forget the young lady on the bus. Nor would she forget him. They were married in Tulsa, OK on October 23, 1943. Erv went on to war Europe and Audrey returned to Castle Rock. Following the war they went to Los Angeles for a year where Erv attended the mortuary science college. They returned to Castle Rock where Erv worked at the local funeral home and then they moved to Chehalis before coming to Aberdeen in 1951. Erv was a funeral director at Elerding Mortuary and later Fern Hill Funeral Home before his death in 1995. Audrey was a secretary and in 1959 she became the secretary at the First United Methodist Church in Aberdeen until she retired in 1998. During her time at the church she financially assisted many children going to camp and also seniors that needed assistance. She was an avid traveler and had been “to the Far Corners of the Earth” including a journey to Antarctica. Audrey is survived by her family: a daughter: Ellen Peterson; grandchildren Brian and Karla Nord and Tanya (Ken) Collins, all of Aberdeen; a niece: Barbara Paliano, Deer Park, WA; and 4 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. A brother, Wendell Dougherty, died before her. A funeral service will be held at 2 PM Friday, April 27th at cryptside at the Colonnades in Fern Hill Cemetery, Aberdeen. Because of Audrey’s great love of animals, the family suggests memorials may be made to PAWS, P.O. Box 451, Aberdeen, WA 98520 A message of condolence or of a memory may be sent to the family at www.fernhillfuneral.com Arrangements were entrusted to Fern Hill Funeral Home, Aberdeen.