Madera mourns loss of pillars

While the new year brings hope for the future, the Madera community is mourning the loss of four pillars to the community in the past couple of weeks — Audrey Pool, Steve Sagouspe, Doug Nelson and Steve Copland.

Audrey Pool passed away just before the end of 2023 (on December 29) at the age of 88. She was a influential member of the community where she earned many awards ranging from the Madera County Schools, Madera Chamber of Commerce and the Soroptimist Woman of Distinction.

In 2015, Pool was a recipient of the Madera Chamber of Commerce’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and later was recognized by the Chamber with her husband, Ray, as a Senior Farmer of the Year.