Audrey Stubbart was a good friend and an able, dedicated co-worker. She kept those of us in the newsroom of The Examiner in line.
Often, I would be at my desk, working away at a dozen things on deadline, when I would sense this certain presence. I’d look up, and there would be Audrey, dictionary in hand. She had a twinkle in her eye, but you knew you were in a certain sort of pleasant trouble.
“Come and let us reason together,” she would say.
Great conversation starter. It also meant there was about to be a brief debate about grammar, usage, or spelling, and you were about to lose. It was wonderful.
I’ve long known the outlines of Audrey’s story, but this conversation with another dear friend — Sue Gentry, who worked at The Examiner in some capacity for seven decades — highlights several themes.
One is how not just Audrey but her whole family valued education — lifelong learning.
Another, if I may borrow an observation from author David McCullough, is that we too easily overlook how hard life was not that long ago. Diseases that we’ve forgotten were very real dangers. Work was physical, relentless, and often dangerous. People scrambled to get by and maybe, just maybe, get ahead. A lot of people — Audrey was one — would pick up and start over again and again.
Audrey lived a long, long life and was often asked what the secret was. She told me the trick was to stay curious and keep learning. That’s still good advice.
Jeff Fox, Editor, The Examiner, Independence, Mo.
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