Richard Andrews

Richard (Dick) Houston Andrews, 80, died Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at the Golden Living Center in Hoover, Ala. Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 12, 2009 at 10 a.m. at Broadmeadow United Methodist Church in Jackson, MS. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to service at the church. Graveside services will be 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Tylertown City Cemetery.
Mr. Andrews was born on December 13, 1928, in Meridian, MS. He was the only child of William Houston Andrews and Olivia (Ellzey) Andrews. Growing up in the Kokomo, MS community, Mr. Andrews graduated from Columbia High School. He completed his B.S. in Microbiology at Miss. State University and completed his M.S. in Microbiology at the University of Illinois. He served in the U.S. Navy and the Miss. National Guard. He married his college sweetheart, Vera Laru Avera, on January 28, 1956 in State Line, MS. Mr. Andrews was the Miss State Board of Health Laboratory Director from 1962 until his retirement in 1993.
He was an active member at Broadmeadow United Methodist Church, where he served in numerous positions. Mr. Andrews was an avid Miss. State Bulldog supporter and raised cattle in the Kokomo community following his retirement.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Vera Laru (Avera) Andrews of Jackson, MS; his two daughters and son-in-law, Linda Laru (Andrews) and Lucian Allison (Al) Wooten of Idaho Falls, ID, and Gretchen Marie (Andrews) and David Bryan (Ernie) Kennamer of Birmingham, AL.
He is also survived by four granddaughters, Leslie Ann Wooten of Fort Collins, CO; Morgan Olivia Kennamer and Skyler Elizabeth Kennamer of Birmingham, AL; and Lila Kathryn Wooten of Idaho Falls, ID.
The family would like to express appreciation to the Helping Hands Hospice in Birmingham, AL and the Riggs Manor in Raymond, MS.
Memorials may be made to Broadmeadow United Methodist Church at 4419 Broadmeadow Drive Jackson, MS 39201 or the Mississippi Animal Rescue League at 5221 Greenway Drive Ext., Jackson, MS 39204