“She opened her eyes, saw a glimpse of Heaven and it took her breath away.”

Audrey Fannin, 87, passed away Sunday, Aug. 29, 2010. She was born in Adams County, Ohio, to Ernie and Ethel Coldiron Spires, who are deceased.

Audrey lived in Portsmouth and graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1942. After her marriage she moved to Akron where she lived for her remaining years. She was a member of the Akron Baptist Church. She retired from the University of Akron, also was a veteran serving in the United States Navy during World War II.

She was preceded in death by her parents, most recently by her husband, Beecher Fannin, on July 20, 2010, and sisters, Joy Spires, Kathryn Englar and Helen Smittle; and an infant brother, Richard.

Survivors include son, Phillip Fannin (Sandra); daughters, Mary Hiley (Robert) and Sue Ellen Morris (Richard Austin); brothers, Ronald K. Spires (Linda) and Ernie C. Spires (Janice, deceased); sister, Jean Griffith (James); grandchildren, Phillip Fannin Jr. (Angela), Erin Fannin, Amanda Duda (Michael), Jennifer Kilker (Aidan), Molly Anne Hiley (James Halicki), Scott Morris (Charlotte), and Benjamin Morris (Robin); and eight great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were Friday, Sept. 3, 2010, at the Anthony Funeral Home, Kucko-Anthony-Kertesz Chapel, Akron, Ohio. The Rev. Mike Prebynski officiating. Interment was at Greenlawn Memorial Park, with the American Legion Post 449 conducting military burial honors. The family received friends on Thursday 5 to 8 p.m. at the Anthony Funeral Home.

The children expressed a special “thank you” to the third floor unit staff of Summa Palliative Care for their gentle care in her last few days.