Audrey Louise Squire, who was 88 years old, passed away peacefully in her sleep, in Sumterville, Florida on March 24, 2026. She left this world a much less colorful place. Audrey lived life to its fullest. Family was foremost in her life, leaving behind approximately 109 direct descendants. I say “approximately” because that number seems to change quickly as life marches along.
She was born on May 24, 1937, in West Palm Beach Florida to Theodore Revels Fussell and Florence Martha Roberts. She grew up in the small fishing town of Gulfport, Florida, where she was the May Day Queen. She developed a love of the beach, and for all kinds of seafood, especially oysters and iced tea. Her family roots lead back to Green Turtle Cay in the Bahamas, where she is immortalized in the island’s ancestral history book. They are also traced back to some of the first settlers in Sumter County Florida and Key West Florida. In fact, her grandmother was one of the first teachers in Sumter County. It is said that she also has some Native American heritage going back to the Cherokee Tribe. Audrey was very proud of her heritage. Her life was spent focused on family, and that took her traveling to Costa Rica, the Bahamas, from Key West all the way up to Maine, North Carolina, and to one of her favorite places, the panhandle of Florida always near the waters of her beloved Gulf.
In her spare time, she was an accomplished poet, doing anything artistic, even known to have sewed clothing for her children. She read every book she could get her hands on, avidly watched the news to keep updated with current events, mastered crocheting, and cooking.
Fried mullet and mullet roe, Diet Coke, and a hot fudge sundae made a perfect meal according to Audrey. Plus, she loved any adventure that came her way. One time, while in the Bahamas, a waterspout was rapidly closing in to a beach in Green Turtle Cay where she was relaxing with family and friends. While everyone else was running away, she and another family member were running towards the middle of the waterspout to experience something crazy and extraordinary. Much to her disappointment, the waterspout evaporated just before she could get swept up like in the Wizard of Oz. That was only one small example, but it describes her lite in a nutshell. Her colorful personality was infectious. And she loved as deeply as she lived.
As said before, family was most important to her. Literally every day, she would be on the phone calling her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, or great-great grandchildren until she found someone that she felt she could help with any issue that troubled them. Regardless of the issue, they always had her total support. She is survived by her daughters, Debbie (and Bob) Cardenas of Key West; Kathy Gaskins of Athens, AL; Tina Squire of Fort Garland, CO; Tammy (and Jorge) Segura of Bushnell, FL; Julie Harrison of Robertsdale, AL; Mary Lou (and Rick) Legree of Sumterville, FL; Charli Kay Taylor of Mount Dora, FL. Her sons include Bill (and Pam) Squire of Webster, FL; Tim (and Cathie) Squire of Dunnellon, FL; Jeff Squire of Lanark Village, FL; and Chris (and Dawn) Squire of Webster, FL. The grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren and their families, too numerous to list, were all equally dear to her heart. She is also survived by her brother, Ted Fussell of Gulfport, FL, and her sister Linda Bell (and Dudley) of Medford, OR. Unfortunately, she was proceeded in death by her grandson, David Harrison.
A detailed family tree was one of the foremost and most cherished decorations in her bedroom, along with a wooden cross made by her son-in-law, Jorge.God broke the mold after she was born. She was an extraordinary woman who lived an extraordinary life. Audrey will be missed by family, friends, and everyone who was lucky enough to meet her during this lifetime. One can only imagine what she’s up to now, but one thing we know for sure is that she’s still looking out for everyone’s best interests and still taking care of them from a better place.
A visitation will be held on Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Beyers Funeral Home & Crematory (Purcell Chapel) in Bushnell Florida. Services will start at 2:00 p.m. The family will be spread her ashes at a later date in the Florida Panhandle per her wishes.