William Leroy Andrews

William LeRoy Andrews

William LeRoy Andrews, 90, died Saturday (Dec. 9, 2006) at Brighton Gardens in Prairie Village.

He was born Nov. 25, 1916, in Kiowa, one of seven children born to LeRoy Calvin and Mabel Hattie Weikal Andrews.

After attending a one-room schoolhouse for seven years, Bill moved to and graduated from Bucklin High School in 1934.

While attending a Fine Arts Festival in Minneola, Bill met a stunning black-haired girl from Protection named Mattie Grace Withrow. They were married on July 9, 1938, and had three children: Sharon Kay, William Aldean and Diana Sue.

Sharon married Glen Bowers and has two sons, William and Robert. Al and his wife, Carolyn, have a son named Adam and a daughter, Heather. Al had a son named Wes and a daughter named Michelle with his first wife, Martha. Diana married Jim Hatfield and has a son named Brett Thomas and a set of twins named Michael and Robin. From these unions, Bill has eight great-grandchildren.

During his 90 years, Bill worked in a bakery, on a farm and as a traveling salesman before going to work at Cities Service Gas Co., where he was employed for 40 years.

Upon retiring in 1983, Bill and Mattie moved from Newton to their home of 36 years in Olathe.

Bill loved to tell corny jokes, history, sports (St. Louis Cardinals), bingo, his wife, family and his friends at Brighton Gardens and Grace United Methodist Church in Olathe.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Mattie, and his oldest daughter, Sharon.

He was loved by many and will be missed by all. Take good care of him, Lord.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to noon Wednesday at Petersen Funeral Home in Newton. A graveside service will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Newton.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Aurora's Mission Kitchen in care of Petersen Funeral Home.