Audrey Lillian Darby Brown (Keeble), 88, passed away peacefully after battling breast cancer heroically for over 4 years and a bout with double pneumonia in the last month. Audrey was born in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England in a thatched roof house, the second of five children to James and Doris Keeble. Audrey’s family soon moved to Ipswich, Suffolk where she spent the remainder of her childhood. Audrey was a vivacious child who took the challenges of growing up in war time in stride and excelled in school, though she was known to be a bit naughty at times and had her knuckles whacked with a ruler on more than one occasion. She especially loved to read and always had a book, usually non-fiction, at the ready. She was a championship diver and swimmer in school, which was a major source of pride for her, but unfortunately a main cause of considerable hearing loss for much of her life. She finished school at 15 and worked in several shops to contribute to her family’s income. She married an American GI, Bill Ed Darby, in 1954 and left England for the first time in 1957 with two young daughters and one on the way and came to the United States, Virginia specifically, to begin the life of a military wife. After posts in Virginia, with a brief residency in West Virginia where her third daughter was born, Germany, Texas, where her fourth child and only son was born, and Florida, the family was stationed back to England where her fifth and final biological child was born. Audrey’s love for travel began at an early age and she did not hesitate to pack up all five children and tour much of Europe while stationed in England the final time. The family was then stationed back in Virginia where they settled in the Woodbridge and Dale City area. Audrey joined or formed several social groups and found lifelong friends in Virginia who continue to share fond memories of Audrey and her family. Audrey remarried Earl Robert Brown in 1977 and gained three more bonus daughters and moved to Arlington, Springfield, and then back to Woodbridge, VA. Audrey and Earl loved to dance and gather with friends at every opportunity and continued to travel as often as possible both with family and just the two of them. She traveled to each of the United States and almost every continent and was always up for an adventure anywhere she went. Even well into her eighties she would not hesitate to swim with dolphins, zipline over the mountains or raft on the rapids. Cruising was a favorite activity, and you would often catch her in the casino or competing with a trivia team on the ship. She loved the water, especially the ocean and spent as much time at the beach as possible, her favorite being Emerald Isle, NC where on her 85th birthday she swam out so far that three of her grandsons had to rescue her as she was laughing all the while. Once Earl and Audrey retired, Earl from the federal government and Audrey from her position as Assistant Membership Director at the National Association of Uniformed Services, they relocated to Kinston, NC to be closer to the beautiful shores of Emerald Isle and to the golf course for Earl. Eventually, they became Florida snowbirds until Earl’s death when Audrey permanently moved to Melbourne, Florida. As in Virginia, she made lifelong friends who became family both in North Carolina and Florida. Audrey had many talents from sewing and knitting and crafts to her most loved hobby, gardening. No matter how small the space, her garden flourished much like the beloved English gardens of her youth, often with plants “pinched” from private property. If you could not find her in the house, she was probably up to her shoulders in dirt cultivating her beautiful plants and flowers.

Perhaps Audrey’s crowning glory and biggest sense of pride was her family, whom she adored. She received a card from her grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchild for her 88th birthday with representations of each of them totaling 65 including spouses!

Audrey was preceded in death by her husband, Earl Robert Brown, one brother, Trevor Keeble and one grandson, Kyle Michael Darby. She is survived by two sisters, Jeanne Wright of Ipswich, England, and Linda Willis (Donald) of Georgia, and one brother, David Keeble (Kathy) of Ipswich, England. She is also survived by her children, Karen Darby Frick of Roseboro, NC, Dawn Marie Welborn of LaGrange, NC, Heather Lynn Dail (Robin) of Falmouth, VA, Adrian Hugh Darby (Michelle) of Jacksonville, NC and Kirsten Lisa Darby of Woodford, VA as well as a bonus daughter, Kathy Melice of LaGrange, NC and three stepdaughters, Karen Ann Conchar (Robert) of Fauquier, VA, Patricia Marie Brown of Falls Church, VA and Tracey Ellen Brown of Chantilly, VA. In addition she is survived by a countless number of grandchildren and great grandchildren of whom she doted on continually as well as many nieces and nephews both in England and in the United States. And we cannot forget the many friends both new and old who became an essential part of Audrey’s circle of family, again too many to mention, yet each one individually held a special place in her heart.

Audrey’s life will be celebrated at two locations, one in Melbourne, FL at Sun N Green Clubhouse on Saturday, November 14 from 2-6 PM and another in LaGrange, NC at Jack’s Place on Saturday, January 18 from 1-4 PM.Audrey loved animals, dogs especially, and helping those less fortunate so she requested that in lieu of flowers, to please send donations in her memory to your favorite pet charity, battered women’s shelter, or suicide prevention organizations.

Audrey had a larger-than-life personality and was loved by many and will be greatly missed on this earth. We rejoice that she is once again whole in body and spirit and at peace in the loving arms of our Lord, probably telling Him what to do.