Kea’au, Hawaii

Aug. 30, 1929 — Nov. 11, 2024

Audrey Cole Hand, longtime Seaside resident, devoted dog rescuer, Barnard College graduate, devoted wife to Karl for 56 years, mother to Richard, Bruce and Gail, succumbed to lung cancer after 80 years of smoking.

Audrey and Karl traveled the world with and without their children. She lived in nine states over her lifetime. Karl and Audrey lived in 10 houses in five states, half of which she landscaped herself. She claimed that “after seven years houses would fall apart, so it was time to move.”

Audrey hosted countless dinners and celebrations for her family and friends, collecting over 300 cookbooks, all of which she used.

She did her daily crossword puzzle, whipping through books like a Category 3 hurricane. Audrey loved living in the Seaside Cove, amused by the surfers artfully undressing in front of the house as she had her morning cigarette.

Often a traditionalist, Audrey would bake and give bread and salt to new neighbors in many states. She enjoyed baking special desserts for many coastal poker games weekly, getting rave reviews.

She was a great listener, a talented roulette player, and an avid “Jeopardy” fan, crying when Alex Trebek retired, and was happy Ken Jennings finally stepped up and became a mensch. Audrey loved watching “Law & Order,” and every “CSI” crime drama, and later the Jewelry Channel.

Preceded in death by her beloved husband Karl; sons, Richard and Bruce; and the family’s rescued dogs and cats, Charlie Brown, Skippy 2, Smokey, Badger, Ali, Zach, Snoogie, Sunny D, Haley, Bobby, Mister T, Scooter, Coco, Louie and Belle, and grand-dogs Desi, Lucy, Zippy, Zoe, Stormy and Bunny.

The family would like to thank Mary Blake, Geno Dutton, Di Stevenson, Carolyn Cole Jacoby and Nancy Cole for their consistent love, support and friendship. Rhonda, Bridgette and Darlene were amazing from Hawaii Care Choices in her last five months on the planet.

Audrey chose bravely to end her life using Death with Dignity when the pain and many issues became overwhelming.

She is survived by her beloved, devoted daughter Gail; daughter-in-law, Mary; six dogs, Hinu, Rocky, Foxy De Carlo, Cartier, Sweety and Zozo; 11 nieces and nephews; and 22 great-nieces and great-nephews.

Donations in her memory may be made to Senior Dog Rescue of Oregon, 2397 N.W. Kings Blvd., No. 130, Corvallis, OR., 97330 or sdroregon.org/donate.