James Edwin Andrews

James Edwin Andrews was born on Tuesday, Sept.22,1931 to Virginia Mae and William Prather Andrews Sr. In Dallas, Texas. He was the youngest of three sons. He spent most of his life in Texas until moving to Douglas, Arizona where he met Marilyn Jean Moore at Douglas High School where he would graduate. On March 1st, 1951, Jim joined the United States Navy and was stationed out of San Diego. He was a radio operator on board the USS Duncan DDR 874, a Gearing class destroyer. He had numerous deployments during the Korean War. Jim would tell stories on two different occasions, while refueling with aircraft carriers, the Duncan rammed the side of carriers, thus earning the ship the nickname, “The Drunken Duncan”. On another occasion, while on maneuvers, the Duncan was practicing setting depth charges. The charges were normally set for 300 feet but on this occasion they were set for 30 feet. Needless to say, some damage was done. Jim said that he was in his radio tower when this event occurred. He said the explosion blew the stern of the ship out of the water. He said he was pretty shaken up, literally. The Duncan was put in dry dock for two months to repair a warped propeller in San Diego. During his time of service, Jim was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, the China Service Medal, the Korean Service medal and the Korean Presidential Unit Citation. Upon returning from a tour of duty in Japan, Jim married Marilyn in a San Diego courthouse on August 8th, 1951 in between divorce trials. Jim was honorably discharged on Feb. 23rd, 1955. After his discharge, Jim and Marilyn moved to Inglewood, Calif. where daughter Karen was born in 1956 and son Brian in 1958. They moved to Hesperia, Calif in 1965 to pursue his hobby of making leather goods such as saddles, belts and all things related. After moving to Hesperia, Jim worked for Victorville Glass, Hahn Construction and Southwest Gas Corporation where he would retire in 1986 after 18 years of service. Jim would eventually fulfill his dreams of opening a saddle and leather repair shop. Jim would spend hours in his garage in Inglewood making leather goods and hand made a custom saddle. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much call for leather goods in Inglewood. Jim bought a small building in Hesperia and opened J. Andrews Saddlery. He would go there on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights at 6:30 after getting off work at the gas company and eating dinner with the family. He would also work at the shop all day Saturday. Jim made a lot of friends through the shop. Customers would drop off items for repair and stay and shoot the breeze with him. Many times his friends had nothing to repair but would come to the shop just to socialize. Conveniently located 120 steps to the northeast of the shop was a refreshment stand called the Liquor Basket from which they would go to get their socializing beverages (beer). To this day you can still see the pathway. Jim would eventually add to the existing building to double the size expand into selling boots, hats clothes, tack and other leather and equestrian items. He also did shoe and boot repair. Through his acquaintances at the shop, Jim joined the Hesperia Wranglers Equestrian Association. The Wranglers sponsored the Hesperia Days Rodeo. For fundraising, the Wranglers sold food and beer during the rodeo. Jim volunteered to be in charge of the beer sales. To boost sales, Jim was famous for donning on a Native American wig and hat, added a rope to a styrofoam ice chest and would go through the stands yelling “Firewater”….get your ice cold Firewater here! Needless to say, beer sales skyrocketed! Jim would go on to join the Apple Valley Sheriffs Posse in 1971. Being that the posse was a mounted group and Jim had no horse, he took on the duties of being the cook. Jim would take trailers and vans donated to the posse and convert them into chuck wagons. Anytime the posse was called upon for searches or mutual aid such as fires, Jim would be there with the chuck wagon. Jim sometimes would feed over one hundred search and rescue personnel and firefighters at a time. Every year the posse would put on the Mormon Trail ride. This was a four day event where riders would start at a designated location and end up just below Big Bear. Jim was famous for using his special ingredient, Spam. Rest assured, if Jim made it, Spam was more than likely in the recipe. Spam and eggs, Spam sandwiches, Spam chili…the list goes on! Jim would move on from the posse to become a member of Victor Valley Search and Rescue. Both the posse and Victor Valley Search and Rescue are in coordination with the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department in which Jim was a reserve deputy sheriff. Jim was still an active volunteer member until his death. Jim would eventually sell his shop to dedicate his time for the search and rescue. Jim was one of the longest serving members of the San Bernardino County Sheriffs department. Like his wife Marilyn, Jim was a leader in the Hesperia Highlighters 4-H club in which Karen and Brian were members. Jim taught electrical and woodworking. Jim enjoyed spending time with his family. He loved to give tractor rides around his house to his grandkids. His favorite vacation spot was June Lake, California where he would rent a cabin on the lake. He enjoyed fishing, especially fly fishing and hunting with his son. He loved the opportunity to go turkey hunting with his son-in-law Rick in Nebraska where he did bag two turkeys. He is preceded in death by his wife Marilyn, who passed away in 2021 just four months shy of their 70th wedding anniversary. He is survived by daughter Karen and her husband Rick Little, Son Brian and his wife Cathy, Six grandchildren- Jennifer Womack, Brian Little, Jim Little, Katee Andrews, Drew Little and Rylee Andrews, six great-grandchildren- Alexis Otto, Abigale Otto,Remi Little, Graham Little, Guinevere Little and Dominic Cazares. A Graveside Services are to be held Tuesday, Jan. 25th at 11:00am at Desert View Memorial Park, 11500 Amargosa Rd, Victorville, CA 92392.