George William Andrews

George W. Andrews, 92, passed away Dec. 26, 2017, while receiving care at Sharon Care Center Skilled Nursing in Centralia, Wash., after suffering a fall at home in November. He was born Sept. 11, 1925, in Knox, N.D., to William Paul and Lily Elsie (Forner) Andrews.

In 1935, the Andrews family migrated west to Chehalis, Wash., in their Essex and four wheel covered trailer. George served in the United States Navy during World War II from 1943 to 1945. With his mother’s written permission, he left high school to sign up as a 17 year old. George was a member of the 125th Naval Construction Battalion (Sea Bees), Company D, which served in Oahu and Okinawa.

Upon returning to Chehalis after the war, he graduated from high school in 1946. George’s civilian career was launched when he was hired by West Coast Mills in Chehalis to oversee the construction of pre-fabricated housing, a must in baby boomer era post WWII USA. George quickly rose to the position of superintendent of West Coast Mills and eventually launched his own firm, Far West Consultants, designing and constructing homes, apartments, medical offices, service stations and other structures throughout the northwest, Alaska, Hawaii and even Japan.

Both homes the Andrew’s family of five inhabited in Centralia were constructed by George and later the home he and Kathleen on Plumbers Lake. One of George’s special interests was horseback riding with his son, Mike and with his good friend, Bob Brush. Hunting trips to the mountains included rifles, but the larger goal was to enjoy the great outdoors on his trusty steeds, Dakota or Red with his friends.

George is survived by his wife, Kathleen Colwell Andrews; son, Mike (Ute Sherbow) Andrews; daughters, Sue Ann (Glen) Johnson and Terry (Tim) O’Reilly; grandchildren, Adam (Katrina) Johnson, Hayley (Erik) Johnson, Tyler (Myiesha) O’Reilly and Teagan O’Reilly; great-grandchildren, Reuben Johnson, Nathan Johnson, Simeon Johnson, Eleanor Johnson, Adeline Johnson and Titus Johnson; sister, Nora May (Dick) Shannon; and stepbrother, Butch (Evelyn) Crawford.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Miriam (John) Curtis; parents, William and Lily Andrews; stepfather, Ray Crawford; brothers, Hank (Francis) Andrews and Don (Dixie) Andrews.

A memorial service will be held in honor of George Andrews Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, at 3 p.m., at Mountain View Baptist Church in Centralia.

Special thank you from the family to the staff at Centralia Providence Hospital and Sharon Care Center Skilled Nursing.