Ray Andrews

Ray E. Andrews August 15, 1933- August 24, 2017

August 24, 2017 I lost my husband, my lover, my best friend when the Lord took him home.

We met in 1950 when he was visiting his brother, who worked for the Forest Service in Unity.  He told me many times about the first time he saw me. One of my best friends and I were riding our bikes down the street.  He said he knew right then he had to meet me.   He arranged with my friends brother to make it happen.  They came to my house later.  Ray, being extremely bashful, never said more than three words.  He made up for that later.

This meeting, however, was the start of a long relationship as we were married a year and half later in my parent’s yard on September 7, 1952.  Ray was barely 19 and I barely 17 (and they said it wouldn’t last) we were 3 weeks short of our 65th anniversary when he left us.

Our marriage produced five beautiful children, twelve wonderful grandchildren and 13 precious great grandchildren.  His passing took such a large part of all of our hearts with him.

Most of our years together were spent in Unity.   It was the place he loved so much.   He said from the first time he came there he knew it was home and he never wanted to leave.

Ray loved horses and always had one or more, from the time he bottle fed one when he was twelve.  He especially liked breeding mares and watching their babies grow up.  When knee replacements kept him from riding he still liked having them around to groom and look at.

His dog, Skeeter, was also much loved.  Anytime Ray went down the road in a truck, Skeeter was there taking his rightful place in the passenger seat.  When Skeeter got sick and couldn’t recover the vet had to put him to sleep.  This was very hard on Ray and he decided Skeeter was his last dog.

Ray was a hardworking man.   He believed you gave an honest day’s work and were honest in your dealings.  He had several different jobs throughout his life but most of the years were spent logging.  He fell trees for many years and also ran almost any kind of machinery.  I think here was where his love of heavy equipment was born.  He had his own small logging outfit for a while.  But he really wanted to do something where he could have and operate all those “beautiful” machines.  This is when the idea of Andrews Excavating started emerging.

He had so much talent and ability operating any machine.  Once when he was putting the finishing touches on a pond, the man standing next to me said, “You know, he is just an artist with that Cat”.  I had never thought of it that way, but as I turned to watch my husband again I knew what he said was true.

I talked to Ray often about getting a hobby and not working so hard. He answered me with, “Working is my hobby.”  He also said that he didn’t know Labor Day was a holiday.  He thought you just worked harder.  He said too, that the best working times were working with his sons.  They helped him often, especially sawing lumber on their portable sawmill.  But the very best and most special and memorable times spent with his boys were when they went hunting.  He repeated those stories often.

My husband wasn’t a real social person, especially in a crowd, mostly because of a hearing loss, but let me tell you, he loved his morning coffee hour (or two) with the guys at the Burnt River Market.  He would become very agitated if something kept him from getting there right at opening time.  Visiting with friends and meeting new people who stopped by was a source of much enjoyment.

 Like most people Ray loved his family with all of his heart and was so proud of them all. His traits of hard work, honesty, compassion, love, caring, loyalty, and generosity were passed on to his family because they possess all of those same values.

He gave to this earth five children: Keena Rhaye, Carrie Ree, Danna Lee, Bradley Ray and Corwin Glenn. Twelve grandchildren: Jacob DeLong, Megan LaTortue, Kristin, Brianne, Erin, Ashlee, Lindsey, and Cameron Browning, Tanna Fjardo, Tara Micka, Torie, and Caleb Andrews: Thirteen great- grandchildren; Evyn And Kaeden Delong, Adalyn and Rhys LaTortue, Payten, Madden, and Kinley Browning, Kobe, Kristin, and Max Cantrell, Hayven Browning,  Leo and Oliver Fjardo.

Ray was born in Mullen, Nebraska August 15, 1933, to parents Fred and Birdeen Andrews.  The family moved to Willow Creek, OR when he was eight years old.  He had eight siblings. He is survived by three brothers and one sister: Robert Carrier and wife Eileen, Doug Andrews and wife Dianne, Dennis Andrews and Wife Ellen, and Audrey Fisher and husband John.

My husband passed away at home surround by his loving family.  A devoted husband, dad, grandpa, and great grandpa will be so deeply missed by all of us and by spouses: Brad’s wife Lorrie, Corey’s wife Shauna, Jake’s wife Jennifer, Megan’s husband Kwami, Tanna’s husband Gabe, Tara’s husband Andy and me, his wife.  I will miss him every minute for the rest of my earthly life.

He was my husband, my lover, my best friend.  He was the one on whom I could always depend.  He was my rock you see.  If I was sad he empathized with me.  If I was happy he laughed with me.  If I was angry he sympathized with me.  He was my rock you see.  If I cried he held me close.  If I was depressed he turned on all the lights for me.  If I was just forlorn he went for a ride with me.  If I was scared he held me tightly so I would feel safe again.  On him I could always depend.  He was my husband, my lover, my best friend. He was my rock you see.

We will love him forever, his wife Barbara and all of his family.

As per his request, there will be no services.  For those who would like to make a donation in memory of Ray the family suggests Young Life (a youth outreach program) through Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home and Cremation Services PO Box 543 Halfway, Oregon 97834.  Online condolences may be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com

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