Macdonald, Audrey Austin. Audrey Austin Macdonald, of Duxbury, MA, died peacefully at her home on April 27th, with her children and friends by her side. Audrey, who was 88, was born and raised in Auburn, NY, and attended the Maxwell School of Government at Syracuse University, ultimately graduating from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She moved to Duxbury in 1961, and taught elementary school for some years, while raising three children. She eventually became an entrepreneur, founding The Duxbury Greeter, and then cofounding Macdonald & Wood Real Estate. Over the years, she served variously on the Board of Selectmen, the Finance Committee, and was Chair of the School Committee where she helped steer the building of the Chandler Street School, incorporating child-friendly design. Later, she would encourage the formation of the school system’s string music and orchestra program. She also served as President of the Republican Women’s Club, sat on the board of the Plymouth Philharmonic, helped form the Pilgrim Investor’s Club, and was involved for many years with Duxbury Rural and Historical Society. Most of all, Audrey was respected and loved by so many people in her community and beyond, a pillar of knowledge and expertise when it came to home ownership, and the town’s unique housing stock. Through Macdonald & Wood she also helped support the Ellison Center for the Arts. Audrey loved the beach community she lived in, playing golf, eating oysters, and gathering with friends so often. She was a lover of hiking, walking, skiing, traveling, and classical music. She went on walking tours in the UK for several years with her friends, and loved getting to know the British people and culture. She was an avid bridge player, and loved hosting the game at her house along with pizza. On Standish Shore she was seen on her daily three mile walks, and would stop and chat with folks along the way. Audrey leaves three children, Gregor John Macdonald of Portland, Oregon (Johanna Heymann), Elizabeth Hubbard Macdonald of Boxborough, Massachusetts, and Amie Austin Macdonald of Brooklyn, New York (Gur Melamede). She leaves six grandchildren, Margaret Inez McKinney of Washington, DC, Ishai, Nadav Yochanan, and Naomi Zohar Melamede of Brooklyn, New York, and Edith Aracely and Eli Nathan Macdonald of Portland, Oregon. She was predeceased by her husband, John Kenneth Macdonald, of Duxbury, Massachusetts, her mother, Elizabeth Austin Walsh of Charlotte, North Carolina, and her brother Richard Arthur Austin of Kiawah Island, South Carolina. Audrey was a wonderful wife and mother, and will be missed by all her family and friends. A burial and memorial service will be held when feasible for people to gather, and the family will post a notice at that time.

Arrangements by Bartlett Funeral Home of Plymouth, with online guest book here: https://www.bartlett1620.com/memorials/audrey-macdonald/4201975/obituary.php

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: The Duxbury Beach Reservation, https://duxburybeachreservation.kindful.com/
And Friends of the Duxbury Free Library, http://duxburyfol.org/donate