Andrea Laurel (Steedle) Walters

Andrea was born in Phoenix, Arizona, where she lived until 1976, when the family moved to Reno, Nevada, where her little sister was born in 1977. The family moved again to Seattle, Washington in 1979, and both girls attended school there. Andrea graduated from Franklin High School in 1987, and graduated from the University of Washington in 1993.

Shortly thereafter, she moved to Toledo, Ohio to start her career as a primate keeper at the renowned Toledo Zoo, where she remained for many years. As an avocation, she bred and trained Basenjis, and later became certified as a dog trainer. After a long career working with animals, she switched gears and started to work with children, including her own. She moved back to the West Coast, this time to Vancouver, Washington, and was employed by the Evergreen School District as a behavioral specialist. She was studying online for her Master’s degree in Counseling at the time or her passing, which occurred after a short illness with bacterial meningitis. She was 53 years old.

Andrea’s love of animals was her most defining characteristic, and almost as defining was her sense of humor. She excelled at all the work she ever did, particularly as a mother to three sons. She was admired and respected by all who knew her. She was fun, funny, bright and beautiful, and she will be missed by everyone in her world.

Andrea is survived by her three sons, her sister, her parents, and her partner, plus a plethora of aunts, uncles, and cousins.