HOOPES, Sarah Audrey (Holly)

Eastern Arizona Courier, Safford, AZ Published on Monday, August 20, 2007 Sarah Audrey “Holly” Asay Hoopes, 81, passed away Monday, Aug. 13, 2007, at her home in Thatcher. Audrey was born Dec. 10, 1925, to John Hilbert Asay and Maggie Eliza Allred. She was raised in Thatcher with two sisters, Allen (Combs) and Melva (Mullenaux), and two brothers, Kent and Delmar Asay. She enjoyed school and playing sports, especially softball, volleyball and track. She married her childhood sweetheart, Chester Lamar “Buck” Hoopes, on Aug. 16, 1942. They lived in various cities throughout Arizona, Oregon and California until they moved to a 240-acre farm in the Ozark hills of Missouri in 1954. There, they raised their four children and received permission to organize the first Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in that area. They saw it grow in membership from one family to a congregation of 200 before moving to Idaho Falls in 1964. In January 1970, Audrey and Chester decided to return to their roots in Thatcher. Audrey was a dedicated member of the church. She and Chester served missions in Florida and Illinois. They also served in the Mesa LDS Temple for five years. Audrey was an accomplished seamstress, an outstanding teacher, an excellent cook and was known as the best cow milker in southwest Missouri. Audrey is survived by her husband Chester Lamar of Thatcher; daughter Linda Nicholls of Springfield, Missouri; sons Steven Lamar of Ogden, Utah, and Brenton Asay of Idaho Falls, Idaho; 15 grandchildren and 53 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were conducted Aug. 18 in the Thatcher LDS Stake Center. Interment was in the Thatcher Cemetery. Online condolences may be extended at www.caldwellfuneraalchapel.com. Arrangements were entrusted to McDougal’s Caldwell Chapel.