Audrey Imogene (Nelson) Brokaw passed into Eternal Life Wednesday, January 20, 2021. There she was welcomed by her Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus, after a lifetime of faithful service.
Full disclosure, she hated her middle name.
Born August 6, 1940 in Rawlins, Wyoming to Wm. Richard Nelson and Irene M. (Pountney) Nelson. Audrey joined her older siblings, Lois and Donald in McFadden, where their father had a career with Marathon Oil.
Before the age of 5, she showed a promising musical interest and ability. She would sit on her father’s lap at the piano and learn little tunes. By age 7, she was taking formal lessons, first in McFadden and then on to different teachers in Laramie. Her longest course of study was with Mrs. Fauneil Fellhauer. Including her time at the University of Wyoming, Audrey studied piano for 15 years, every Saturday and more, and played for others for 73 years. Everyone who heard her play knew they had been blessed. She taught piano lessons, played for numerous weddings and funerals, and accompanied school programs and concerts in McFadden, Saratoga, and Rock River. She played at church in McFadden, as well as these past 25+ years at Grace Chapel of West Laramie. She truly enjoyed the weekly Wednesday night practices with the church choir.
Audrey was involved in her community, evidenced by her memberships in the following organizations: The National Federation of Women’s Club in McFadden, the Wyoming Arabian Horse Association, the Lettermen Fan Club Wyoming Chapter, the Albany County Cowbells (now Cattlewomen), The Carbon County Republicans, The Rock Creek Country Club (now Ag Bags), The McFadden Community Church, and Grace Chapel of West Laramie.
Her other passion was horses, horses, and horses! Her favorite book read to her by her mother was King of the Wind, by Marguerite Henry. She fell in love with the imagery of the Arabian breed, and while she loved all creatures equine, the Arabian had her heart. She realized her dream of breeding full- and part-Arabs with the acquisition of SG BLACK AMIR in 1993 from Eleanor Prince, and soon, the Black Babson-Egyptian influence was evident in her herd. She formed a partnership with JoAnn Clark and Ida Vieyra, Overland Trail Arabians, with the dreams of breeding and showing Arabian horses. The reality was they bred, raised, and sold or kept most of the animals. There was a contagious joy in their fellowship around the animals, and many happy customers became good friends, drawn together by a mutual admiration of the Arabian Horse.
She and fellow classmate, Terrance Black, were the final class of seniors in 1958 to graduate from McFadden High School.
She attended the University of Wyoming for two years, in the Music Department, emphasis on performance, and was offered a European Scholarship for piano study abroad. More of a homebody than an explorer, she did not choose that opportunity.
She did, however, need to find a rancher in order to have her horses, and married Howard M. Brokaw September 22, 1962. They moved up to his favorite spot on the creek, and lived 42 years together raising a family, livestock, and hay. In 1968, Howard received a registered female dachshund puppy for Christmas. Cricket of Arlington was the beginning of over 30 years of breeding and raising puppies; Audrey loved her wiener dogs!
More though, she loved her family. She took great joy in her family; her kids, her 10 grandkids, her 4 great-grandkids, and all the in-laws. She prayed earnestly for everyone daily and was so pleased when we all gathered at her home for celebrations, holidays, and Bible study.
She liked it when people visited. She liked it when her kids brought friends home. She really liked the Annual 4th of July BBQ that began in the late 1970s and was a gracious hostess. She loved where she lived and wanted to share that with others.
Audrey loved well; when you were around her, you knew she was genuinely interested in how you were doing Life. And she never missed a chance to remind you of how the Bible addressed any topic, or what God had said was the best course of action.
Because, most of all, Audrey loved the Lord. She accepted Christ as her personal Savior as a very little girl, perhaps by age 3? She honestly did not remember not belonging to God. She was strong in her faith, rock solid in her convictions, and loved her family and friends fiercely. She never wavered about how the Bible addresses Life, and was a student of the Word, rightly divided. As she became more housebound, she was a faithful viewer of Transformed by Grace, a Bible teaching program led by Paster Kevin Sadler of the Berean Bible Society. She was thrilled with the truths he explained so easily and wanted all her family and friends to start watching as well. For all who knew and loved Audrey, if your association with her has caused you to honestly consider who Christ Jesus is, then her life was well spent.
She is preceded in death by her parents; sister Lois I. Flint; infant daughter Annetta I. Brokaw; and husband Howard Brokaw.
Audrey is survived by her brother Donald R. Nelson, Colorado Springs; children: Lana (Eric) Clark, Rock River; Richard (Kimberly) Brokaw, Cheyenne; Ralph Brokaw, OOO Ranch; Lois (Keith) Broyles, OOO Ranch; grandchildren: William (McKenzie) Clark; Richard (Andrea) Clark; Mary Clark; Scott, Annetta, and Rachel Broyles; Shade and Lindi Brokaw; and Bridger and Coulter Brokaw; greatgrandchildren: Adalyn, Charlotte, Tyler, and Cameron; nieces and nephews: Ruth, Debbie (Steve) Earnshaw, Cynthia, Michael (Kelly) Brokaw, Timothy Brokaw, and Stephen (Ana) Brokaw; many cousins, including Nettie (James) Davis, Ida Vieyra, and Bob (Jacquie) Pountney; and her BFF JoAnn Clark, whom she has loved as a sister since the 3rd grade.
A celebration of life will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, June 12, 2021 on the Brokaw Ranch.
Memorials may be given to Grace Chapel of West Laramie or Transformed by Grace, C/O Berean Bible Society, N112W17761 Mequon Rd, Germantown, WI 53022.
See you later, Mom. We love you. Rest well.
Sorry for your loss
Thank you for sharing this wonderful tribute. Our condolences on your loss. I’m thinking she is happy to be playing for angel choir already! Also, glad to be reunited with her horses that preceded her in death. The picture you chose is just as I remember her. Love to all. Emily Hagan
She was a wonderful woman! I loved how welcoming and talkative she was! She will be missed!
Dear Brokaw Family, Sorry for your and our loss. Audrey will be missed by many. I was raised around her love of animals and beautify music. We are very certain that God has given her a new healthy body. Goodbye Big Sister, say Hi to Howard. We will all see each other again. Sincerely, Love in Christ. The Davis Family (Nettie, Jim, Aaron, Serena, Matthew and Jane).
Much love to you all at this time and always. Audrey was a joy to know.
I wish there were words to say how sorry this makes me but how grateful to celebrate her return Home as she was a true ambassador of the message of Grace! ! She was a treasure. She never missed an opportunity to give strong hugs, strong coffee and wise words. My heart is broken, but I am blessed to have shared her with you. Squeeze-Squeeze!
I am so very sorry for your loss. I am also so very thankful I had the opportunity to meet your mom and have lasting memories of her...she was a rock. Her unwavering faith in God and kind words will always have an impact on me. She will be missed but know that her strength of character had a very positive ripple affect on many....my thoughts and sympathy are with you at this time.
Blessing to the Family- Audrey will always be thought of fondly for her role at McFadden Community Church in leading us in all the old hymns as well as teaching Sunday School along side her mother.
I am saddened to hear of Aunt Audrey’s passing. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. There is comfort knowing she is at home with God, and no longer shackled by earthly pains.
Our deepest condolences to the Brokaws. Audrey was a great horseman, larger than life, and a very kind true lady. Lane and Kathy
Many thoughts and prayers to the whole family. Honestly I can’t think of a time that the Collamer family has not mentioned someone in the Brokaw family over the years and for many years. We have been intertwined for so many of them that we can’t help but relate to Howard and Audrey and their family as our extended family. With our deepest sympathy we will miss Audrey but so happy she has joined Howard.
Condolences
January 31, 2021 Brokaw Family, Our hearts are broken with the loss of Audrey, which makes us have a loss of words. Unsure of what to say because we have SO many great memories of your Mom. Weddings and the 4th of July were always a big hit (oh the stories!). We are blessed and grateful to know each of you, especially your Mom. May your Mom Rest In Peace and be reunited with your Dad in Heaven. Your parents are proud of each and everyone of you. We know the OOO legacy will carry on! Prayers, hugs, and love sent your way! Judy and Kelly Robertson Friend
My Mother, Laura Nell Ellis, always spoke of Audrey fondly & reminisced about their younger days in the McFadden area. They would go long periods of time in between visits & would see each other occasionally. It was like they never missed a beat & had seen one another just the day before. I am sure they are in heaven catching up now. It is so very hard losing one's mom. I pray God will bring you comfort & strength in the coming days. Blessings to all.
I'm so sorry to hear of Audrey's passing, I am sure she is in a much better place, dancing, singing and rejoicing with all that have preceded her and especially Jesus Christ and God. She will be forever in my heart and I am sure she is watching over us all. Nephets