07/20/2026
Audrey Eugenie Kithcart
Audrey Kithcart had a way of making her presence known.
She might greet you on the phone by singing “Good Morning to You”, ask what you were doing within the first five minutes, and then unapologetically admit, “I’m nosey.” She always had a funny remark, a question, or something to say. The room became a little louder when Audrey entered it, and almost certainly more interesting.
Born on August 13, 1938, and raised in White Plains, New York, Audrey was the middle daughter of the late Arthur L. and Ellen Boddie Williams. Her mischievous streak showed up early. She often laughed about getting into trouble as a child, especially when her parents told her not to do something, then she’d proudly proclaim, “I still did it!”
Audrey earned a B.S. degree in Elementary Education from SUNY Oswego. In 1960, she moved to Kingston, NY, married, and soon welcomed her beloved son, Larry Kithcart, Jr. She later earned her M.S. degree from SUNY New Paltz, which opened the door to a fulfilling career in Elementary Education.
During nearly 40 years in the Kingston City School District, Audrey shaped the minds of thousands of young children until her retirement in 2000. She loved “the babies” and spent most of her career teaching kindergarten at Frank L. Meagher Elementary School. With a warm smile, Audrey recalled how she began drifting off during story time, but was quickly revived when one child whispered, “I think she’s sleeping.” As time would tell, that would not be the last time Audrey insisted she was “reading,” even though her nose rested against the pages of a book. Each day, Audrey brought the right balance of music, laughter, instruction, and firm but loving discipline. She sang and played the piano each morning, filling her classroom with a love her students could feel...and would always remember.
To know Audrey was to know a woman who valued education, service, order, laughter, and always looking her best. When Marshall’s opened in Kingston in 1983, Audrey joined the store part-time while continuing to teach. She remained there for 35 years, retiring on her 80th birthday in 2018. Whether in the classroom or the toy department, she believed in order and everything being in its place. When children scattered toys throughout the aisles, you could hear her fussing, “This is not a daycare!”
Audrey had little patience for rudeness, poor manners, or careless pronunciation. As the family’s grammar police, she was quick to correct, “It’s ask, not axe.” And still, she would tell you, “If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all!”
Audrey showed love by calling...and talking. Oh, could she “yap”! Those conversations were how she stayed close to the people she cared about. If she lovingly called you a colorful name, congratulations---you knew you were loved. Her unique language of affection will be missed more than words can say.
Audrey was spirited, social, and always ready for a little adventure. An avid bowler, she traveled to tournaments across the country to socialize, laugh, see the sights...and, yes, occasionally sling a 16-pound ball down an alley.
She traveled with curiosity, humor, and just enough chaos to make every trip memorable. She loved cruising, which was her code word for “casino” and good eats. Audrey took more than 15 “cruises”, choosing the slot machines over organized excursions and keeping any losses strictly between her and the casino. She enjoyed cold soups, covered her refrigerator with magnets from her travels, and once got tangled in a van-door curtain on the way to board a ship. She almost missed it. The family eventually set her free but never let her forget it.
Audrey also loved music from the 1960s. She was often found line dancing at Eastern Star functions and, in later years, danced from her chair, never losing the rhythm.
She couldn’t read enough romance novels, carried a book everywhere she went, and even ordered them by the box. She also loved old westerns and, like a mesmerized child, would watch wide-eyed from an oversized chair just three feet from the television.
Whether she was getting dressed to go somewhere, simply watching TV (or having it watch her), Audrey believed in looking her best. Her hair was done weekly, and her nails were polished a different shade of red every two weeks. She was so devoted to the routine that, during the pandemic, her family practically had to threaten her to stay away from the salon. She was committed. In college, she occasionally hitchhiked to Syracuse for a hair appointment, then defended it with perfect Audrey logic: “It was safe to hitchhike back then.”
After retirement, Audrey made it clear that her hair and nails were one luxury she had no intention of giving up. She finished every look with pearls and gold jewelry, rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets...the whole shebang. Whether she had plans or not, she always looked like she did.
Audrey expressed her faith through servant leadership. A devoted member of Fair Street Reformed Church in Kingston, she served as an Elder and Deacon, volunteered wherever she was needed, and loved singing hymns.
Her service extended well beyond the church. She quietly supported many organizations, served as Worthy Matron of Excelsior Chapter No. 72, Order of the Eastern Star, and was a member of Mary’s Court No. 11, Heroines of Jericho, and Elejmal Court No. 171, Daughters of Isis. She also served the wider community through the Kingston City Civil Service Commission.
Audrey’s life lives on in the stories we will keep telling, the children she taught, the family she loved, and the community she strengthened simply by showing up as herself. It lives in the bells on her mantel, shrimp cocktail at sleepovers with her nieces and nephew, Burger King French fry runs and all the moments that will still begin with, “Remember when (Aunt) Audrey...”
After 87 full and vibrant years, Audrey’s sun set peacefully on July 14, 2026, at HealthAlliance Hospital. She now joins her son, Larry Kithcart, Jr.; her sister, Susan Wallace; and her cousin, Mary Brown.
She leaves to cherish her memory her sister, Sharon Williams; her brother-in-law, John Wallace; her nieces: Linda Wallace Peele (Kenneth), Lisa Wallace, and Yvonne Brown (Bruce); her nephews: Arthur Wallace (Frankie) and Shen Williams-Cohen; her special cousins: Michele Utley (James), J. Stacy Utley (Crystal), and J. Shawn Utley (Carla); and a dear circle of family and friends she loved, whose lives were brightened by her warmth, laughter, and unmistakable spirit.
· In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to Fair Street Reformed Church, 209 Fair Street, Kingston, New York 12401, a place that meant so much to Audrey.
