Audrey Rae Barnett

Audrey Rae (Martin) Barnett was born in San Jose, California to Robert Firmin Martin and Muriel Violet (Wall) Martin on July 5, 1930. She passed away on December 11, 2024 at the age of 94 in Santa Cruz, CA. She was survived by her husband of 53 years, Harlan H. Barnett of Santa Cruz, Ca, until he passed on 01-27-2025. 

Audrey grew up in Los Gatos, California where her dad was a building contractor, and her mother was a Master Gardner. They were very involved in the Los Gatos Community. 

Audrey came from the Pioneering Martin Family. Her great-grandfather, Charles C. Martin and great-grandmother, Hannah Carver Martin founded the town of Glenwood in 1851. They operated a toll gate, a station for the stagecoaches crossing the mountains, eventually developing a lumber mill, winery, store, and the Glenwood Resort Hotel. Charles was instrumental in building the concrete highway, known today as Glenwood Dr. and Old Santa Cruz Highway, which was the main route over the mountain in 1920 before the building of Highway 17. 

Audrey attended Los Gatos Elementary School and Los Gatos High School graduating in 1948. She was involved in the Student Council. She and her girlfriends enjoyed organizing dance parties which included renting a dance hall and sending invitations while in high school. Audrey was on her high school reunion committee for many years, the last reunion was their 65th .

In 1951 she married Harry Urban “Bud” Quehl. They had daughters Susan and Kim in California. Due to Bud’s Insurance business, they moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico then to Casper Wyoming where daughter Lindsey was born. They divorced in 1965, Audrey came back to California where she raised her daughters in Los Gatos. She worked as a bookkeeper for A&M Motor supply until she retired. 

She was introduced to Harlan (Barney) on a blind date in 1969 by good friends Ted and Gay McCarthy. They got married in 1971 and became a blended family that included Jeff, Robin, and Sherri. They purchased land that was part of the Martin Ranch and with the help of her father built the family home. They were avid boaters and members of the Los Gatos Yacht Club. 

Audrey and Harlan loved to travel anywhere they could drive since Audrey did not like to fly. They traveled to visit grandkids in Oregon and to Baja California where they had friends. They had a vacation home in Cathedral City, CA. They loved to celebrate family birthdays, holidays, and loved to entertain. They lived in the Santa Cruz Mountains until 1996 when they retired to live in Los Gatos at The Commons, a senior living complex. She had many friends that gathered to play cards weekly. She loved to have grandkids over on the weekends. She loved Los Gatos and was proud to be a local.. 

In 2018, Audrey and Harlan moved to Dominican Oaks retirement community in Santa Cruz, CA. She is preceded in death by parents, Robert Firmin Martin, Muriel Violet Martin, Daughter, Sherri Lyn Barnett and her brother, Firmin (Bud) Martin 

She is survived by her sister, Sharon Fracker of Eureka, CA. Daughters, Susan Quehl Barraza, Kim Quehl Morris (Miles), Lindsey A. Ryan (Michael), Robin Barnett De Alvarez (Hal) and son, Jeff Barnett (Kari). Grandchildren, Corey Witbeck (Heather), Brandon Barnett, Jaydon Barnett, Shauna Walters, Andy Morris (Erica), Audrey Davis (Drew), Marion Morris, Ben Lackey (Candice), Hannah Ryan, Colburn Ryan, Scott De Alvarez (Jackie) and Dawn De Alvarez. She had 15 great-grandchildren. 

Services will be at Pacific Garden Chapel on Feb 7 at 11am. The Family would like to thank the caregivers at Dominican Oaks Assisted Living, for their love and attention to our parents. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Wounded Warriors, Disabled American Veterans, Hospice of Santa Cruz or a Charity of your choice.