March 1, 1935 — July 2, 2022
Audrey Ann Montgomery Godfrey said in her graduation speech at Weber High School in 1953, “No man is alone.” As she got older, she added the words “no woman is alone either”. Throughout her long life, she has, at the right time and in the right way, stood up for women’s rights and ensured that they will never be forgotten. Born March 1, 1935 in Ogden, Utah, Audrey, daughter of William Floyd Montgomery and Adrianna Van Zweden, loved barns, wildflowers, working in her father’s cherry orchard, and good books. Early in life, she learned that beautiful prose flowed from her pen and, while still in high school, won a Daughters of the Utah Pioneers writers contest, then served as editor of the student newspaper of Weber High School. She also wrote a monthly column focusing on Weber County history which was published in the Ogden Standard Examiner. Last year, in 2021, she received the Sons of the Utah Pioneers “Modern Pioneer Award” from the Temple Fork Chapter. Blessed to be from a large family of achievers, his siblings included sisters Rosemary (Max) Jones, Sylvia (Lamont) Hunt, Laurie (Don) Evans and brothers James, Robert (Jelean) and Michael (Dianne ) Montgomery. The Montgomerys were of English, Scottish, Danish and Dutch descent and operated an orchard in North Ogden on land owned by his pioneer family. Graduating from Weber High School in May 1953, Audrey enrolled at Weber College where she received scholarships which were augmented by the salary she received as a telephone operator and retail saleswoman. After winning a KSL scholarship, she enrolled at Utah State University where she served as director of the school’s radio station and editor for the student newspaper Aggie. While attending Utah State University, she met and married Kenneth W. Godfrey, the son of a Cache County farmer. They were married on September 17, 1956 at the Logan LDS Temple. Audrey was the mother of five children: Ted K. Godfrey (Angie) of Ogden, Utah, David W. Godfrey (Emily) of North Ogden, Kathleen Godfrey of Marina, California, W. James Godfrey (Diane) of Cedar Hills, Utah , and Matthew C. Godfrey (Carrie) of Layton, Utah. She had sixteen grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. After her children grew up, she enrolled in graduate school at Utah State University and earned a master’s degree in history. A member of the Mormon History Association, she has won awards for articles published in the Utah Historical Quarterly, The Arizona and the West Journal, The Salt Lake Tribune. Her studies of the Utah War included her article “Saints, Housewives, and Huzzies, the Women of Johnston’s Army” which won the Utah Historical Quarterly Best Title award. Active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Audrey has served as Primary president, Young Women leader, and Relief Society presidency in the Logan East Stake. She and her husband are the authors of History of the Logan East Stake, Women’s Voices: An Untold History of the Latter-Day Saints, and other books. She has organized historic tours of Latter-day Saint historic sites and has traveled to England, Denmark, Egypt, Palestine, and Norway. Additionally, she taught at the Nauvoo, Illinois Joseph Smith Academy, served missions in Salt Lake City, served as a temple officiator, and contributed to the book By Study and Also By Faith, a history of seminaries and institutes in the LDS Church. Moreover, the small volume Our Heritage knew the point of his pen. Audrey passed away peacefully on July 2, 2022 at her home in Logan, Utah. She will be remembered as a loving, caring wife, mother and grandmother who was joyful, kind, caring and stood up for her beliefs. A visitation will be held at the First Ward Chapel in Lundstrom Park (1260 N. 1600 E.) on Saturday, July 9, 2022 at 9:00 a.m., with a funeral following at 11:00 a.m. Internment will be at Logan City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family urges contributions to the USU Department of History: Dan McInerney Fellowship in his honor. We would also like to thank Intermountain Homecare and Hospice and Aegis Home Health Care for their care of Audrey.
