Audrey Ah Tye was born in Canton in November 1916. But you wouldn’t know it after having a conversation with her. She is engaging, has a wonderful spirit about her, and a great attitude about aging. Village life in China was okay. There was no running water in the house so they had to walk to the village well.
She came to the U.S. when she was six years old. Her family farmed plums, tomatoes, and asparagus in rural West Sacramento. She describes herself as “a farmer’s daughter,” doing any job that her father asked her to do. Audrey started planting tomato beds when she was very young. Since no one had cars back then, she walked the three miles to school, cutting through neighbors’ fields, trying to avoid dogs and other animals. When it rained, her father would take her to school in a horse and buggy. “It was a bumpy ride, but not bad.” Her teacher drove her into town to attend Chinese School and her father picked her up in a horse and buggy. After high school, she went to Sacramento City College.
She met her husband, Raymond, through her cousin. “My mother interviewed him first. She was very impressed that Raymond came from a big family – he was the 7th child of 15 children,” says Audrey. It was a short courtship. They met in the summer and by December, they were married. Raymond worked for Caltrans for almost 30 years. They were married for 70 wonderful years before he passed away in 2012, at the age of 97.
What’s her secret to a long life? Audrey says, “maybe because I’ve worked hard all my life.” Until the age of 95, she did her own gardening; sometimes she was outside all day tending the yard. She has been very independent and only recently surrendered her driving license at the age of 99. “I have macular degeneration now and can’t see that well anymore. But I sure do miss driving…. I wish I could drive to Target and shop anytime I want.” Despite vision problems, Audrey is content. She goes to Chinese United Methodist Church every Sunday. She enjoys time with her children, Michelle and Dale; her three grandchildren (Leslie, Tiffany, and Brandon) and two great-grandsons (Conner, Colin).
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