Audrey Salas

Audrey Lee Salas Oxnard, California Audrey Lee Salas, 83 ... passed away on Saturday the 14th of September 2013 while she was being hospitalized for renal failure and intestinal complications at St. John's hospital in Oxnard, California. Audrey was born on March 10, 1930 in Crab Orchard, Illinois to her parents Elmer and Marie Smith of Pittsburg, Illinois. She was married once before and gave birth to two daughters, Rebecca Edwards of Shreveport, Louisiana and Melody Pool of Barlow Kentucky. Both daughters blessed Audrey with grandsons and a granddaughter. The grandchildren have also Blessed their grandmother with great grandchildren. Audrey met her husband John Jess Salas in 1972 while both were working at Camarillo State Hospital and ended being married for 41 years. They were married in Thousand Oaks, California by a justice of the peace and renewed their marriage vows in Las Vegas a few times. Audrey went to school in Marion, Illinois and worked at her step fathers fish market until she became of age, got married and became a mother of two daughters. After moving to California with her husband and family, she started working at Western Union and eventually was hired at Camarillo State Hospital as a Psychiatric technician trainee. She worked for 26 years as a Psychiatric Technician and advanced to the position of Child Care Technician after getting her A A degree. She completed extra training in American Sign Language and was paid an additional 5% of her pay for being bilingual and working with Autistic children. Audrey had a love of birds, especially Conures. She had a few birds during her lifetime. Her favorite bird was a Sun Conure named Pookie and it was to be her last pet. Audrey and her husband John would travel to Las Vegas for their entertainment. Audrey loved playing the slot machines and black jack. On one occasion she kicked some royal tush at the black Jack table after having won a large sum of money. The winnings allowed them to stay an additional two weeks in Las Vegas. Audrey and her husband John were always involved in some venture.They did wedding photography and Audrey did negative and print retouching. They belonged to the Professional photographers of America and the Professional Photographers of California. Both were active in print competitions and both received awards for their work. They also attended the Brooks Institute of Photography workshops and at times would spend up to two weeks in class room instruction. Audrey loved to paint in oils and painted various types of the jungle cats, birds and various other animals. She became proficient with the use of the air brush while attending Brooks Institute and would spend time doing air brush projects. Audrey and her husband also became involved operating a Karaoke business. Since Purple was Audrey's favorite color, karaoke nights would find Audrey singing in her latest Purple outfits. She is survived by her husband, John J. Salas a resident in Oxnard, California Rebecca Edwards a resident in Shreveport, LA. and her other daughter and husband, Wayne and Melody Pool a resident in Barlow, KY. Audrey is preceded in death by her parents Elmer and Marie Smith of Pittsburg, Illinois A visitation for Audrey will be held on Thursday, September 26th beginning at 5pm with the Vigil at 6:30pm located at the Perez Family Funeral Home, 1347 Del Norte Road in Camarillo. Mass will be celebrated at 10am on Friday, September 27, 2013 located at Santa Clara Church in Oxnard. Burial will follow at Santa Clara Cemetery in Oxnard. Assisting the family with funeral arrangements is the Perez Family Funeral Home in Camarillo. For assistance, please call (805) 983-3457.