Audrey Opitz

Audrey Mae Opitz left to be with the Lord on February 26, 2021. She was born June 21, 1930 to Adela and Clifford Ruddy. After graduating high school in 1948 at the young age of 18, she became a teaching missionary on the San Carlos Reservation. In 1954, she married James R. Opitz and moved to Warrington, England where he was stationed in the US Air Force. In 1973, Audrey and Jim, along with 3 of their 4 children, moved to Peridot as teaching missionaries. Later, they moved to the White Mountain Reservation and taught at the East Fork Lutheran Mission. Audrey moved to Globe on July 1, 1980 after her divorce. It would turn out to be the last place she lived and the longest she had ever lived in one place. During her years in the Globe, Miami, and San Carlos area, she was very active, becoming known as a Community Advocate. For 27 years she was the Director of the Gila Community Food Bank and HELP Center. After leaving the food bank, she remained ACTIVE IN “Her Community” as she served on various boards, including Headstart and the local Community Action Program as well as on the council for First things First until her passing. Audrey was also an active member of the Globe Lions until health issues forced her to slow down a little. At the age of 13, she gave her life to Christ and was faithful to her “calling” until the moment He called her to be with Him in eternity. Audrey was loved and respected by many and will be greatly missed. She is preceded in death by her parents and her brother Ken Ruddy Sr. She leaves behind her sons Michael Opitz, James “Rick” Opitz(Evelyn) and daughters Sheila Macias(Dan) and Cheryl Beasley(Tony), 15 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren, and 6 great-great grandchildren. A Celebration of Life Memorial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Audrey Opitz Memorial Donation Go Fund Me account. All donations will go directly to First Things First which was very near and dear to Audrey’s heart. https://gofund.me/60bdc539. A MEMORIAL SERVICE WILL BE HELD ONCE THE COVID RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED.