Audrey Muriel (Case) Tompkins, daughter of Loren and Anna (Jerby) Case, was born January 17, 1926, at the family's home in Farmington Twp. near the Rooks/Phillips County line. She passed away on June 4, 2016, at Good Samaritan Society - Colonial Villa in Alma, Nebraska, at the age of 90.

Audrey grew up on the family farm where she enjoyed wonderful times with cousins and family members playing their grandmother's piano. She also played the violin. Audrey experienced hardships of the "Dirty Thirties," which made farming virtually impossible and forced the family to move to Alma, Nebraska, in December of 1935. Audrey was baptized into the Christian faith on January 13, 1937, at the First Christian Church in Alma. In 1938 the family moved to Phillipsburg, Kansas, where Audrey graduated high school with the Class of 1944.

On March 28, 1948, she was united in marriage to Arthur "Art" Merklein at the First Christian Church in Phillipsburg. To this union two children, Dennis and Sharon, were born. Audrey was confirmed into the Lutheran faith and became a member of the Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Stuttgart, Kansas, in 1950. Audrey and Art made their home together on the farm west of Stuttgart, until Art's unexpected passing in April 1979.

Audrey loved being in fashion. She worked in retail clothing sales for many years, including J.C. Penney, Mode O'Day, and Suzy's Cellar. After retirement, Audrey dedicated countless hours to genealogical research. This led to numerous trips throughout Kansas and many other states, which she truly enjoyed.

On November 14, 1981, she was united in marriage to Paul Tompkins at Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Stuttgart. Together they enjoyed traveling, camping, boating and fishing with their grandchildren, as well as socializing with friends at dances and playing cards. After Paul's passing in May 2009, Audrey's health declined rapidly. In November of that year, she became a resident of Mt. Carmel nursing home in Kearney, Nebraska. She transferred to the Good Samaritan Society - Colonial Villa in Alma in February 2015.

Audrey was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Arthur; grandson, Jared Krafft; and husband, Paul.

Survivors include her son Dennis Merklein of Phillipsburg; daughter Sharon Krafft and husband, Denton, of rural Phillipsburg; step-daughter, Yvette Korb and husband, Steve, of Lenexa, Kansas; grandchildren: Shawn Merklein and wife, Rebecca, of Phillipsburg; Jamie Merklein and Brandon Booher of Auburn, Kansas; Jodie Garcia and husband, Luis, of Eudora, Kansas; Eric Krafft and wife, Alissa, of Prairie View, Kansas; Jenna Skov and husband, Kevin, of Independence, Kansas; and great-grandchildren: Felishity Blubaugh, Matthew Merklein, Camila Garcia, Bailey Skov, Kennadee Booher, Maggie Krafft, and Hayden Skov. She also leaves her brother, Donald Case and wife, Marion, of Oak Grove, Missouri, along with several nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Even though Audrey's journey and the illness she endured on earth has ended, her eternal home in paradise with the Lord brings peace and healing!

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 7, 2016 at the Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Stuttgart, with Pastor Lee Bennight officiating. Burial will follow in the Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery.

Mrs. Tompkins will lie in state from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, 1115 2nd Street, Phillipsburg, KS 67661.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church.