L. Chaffie Audrey

Audrey L. Chaffie, age 81, of Ann Street, passed away Saturday, May 6, 2017 at Cayuga Ridge Nursing Home in Ithaca.

The family will be present to receive friends from 2:00 to 4:00pm on Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at Covert Funeral Home, 7199 South Main Street in Ovid. A graveside memorial service will be held at a later date. In her desire to help others, Audrey was a donor to the anatomical gift program at NYCC, a cause she had felt strongly about for many years. Kindly consider a donation to the American Heart Association in her memory. www.donatenow.heart.org

Audrey was born in Lodi on March 7, 1936, a daughter of the late Leon J. and Carolyn M. (Murphy) Champion. After high school, she lived in Watkins Glen, then started a long career at Willard Psychiatric Center, where she had been a laundry attendant, retiring with more than 32 years of service.

Audrey had a definite fondness for children and she was very fond of her nieces and nephews, and remained very close with the extended Champion family. Audrey truly enjoyed her retirement years, and was a regular fixture at the Ovid diner and nearly all community events.

She is survived by her companion of 38 years, Robert Guthrie; his daughters, Beth-Anne of Massachusetts and Sharon of Long Island, his siblings, Marge Marsh of Geneva and Jack Guthrie of Penfield; her brother, Delbert Champion of Jacksonville, NY and many nieces and nephews. Audrey was preceded in death by her brother, Leon Jr., sister, Edith Dewey and infant sisters, Patricia and Thelma.