Larry J. Andress

Larry J. Andress, seventy-two years old, won his battle with congestive heart failure on Saturday, March 26, 2016 at UAB Medical Center while surrounded by his wife of fifty-two years and his children. Memorial services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 30, 2016 at Hillcrest Baptist Church. The family will receive friends at the church Wednesday beginning at noon and continuing until service time. Flowers will be accepted, or donations may be made to The Catalyst Community, 7956 Vaughn Road # 145, Montgomery, AL 36116. Larry, the firstborn son of Grady and Ruth Sessions Andress, was born and reared in Goodman, where he lived until moving to Troy to attend what was then Troy State College. There, he earned his bachelor's degree and met the love of his life. They then moved to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where he earned his master's degree before moving first to Auburn then to Tallahassee to pursue his doctorate. When the young family left Florida State in 1971 to return to Troy, after finishing his coursework but not his dissertation, Larry decided it was time to enter business and not merely teach others about it. Thus, a real estate career that spanned over forty years was begun. Larry built, sold, and appraised not just homes but neighborhoods; however, he saw the family's real estate business as a means not only to provide for his family but as a ministry to others. Larry was passionate about sharing his faith, and there isn't a church in Enterprise that could hold everyone that Larry has asked just two simple questions: "How sure are you that you have received the gift of eternal life?" and "If you were to stand before God today and He were to ask you, 'Why should I let you into my heaven?' what would you say?" Larry was preceded in death by many family members, most recently his oldest grandson Forrest Weeks. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Brenda "Pearl" Andress; his three children, his three children by marriage, and his six grandchildren: Kim and JD Weeks (Taryn and Jentry), Blair and Miranda Andress (Jordyn and Chloe), and Matt and Jaime Andress (Hudson and Grady). He is also survived by his younger brother, Mike Andress, and by numerous nephews, cousins, and extended family members. There are additional family members that are family by choice. Don Page was brought into the Andress family as a flight student, and he, Linda, and Tripp are Andresses regardless of their last name. Carolyn Walton Olk was embraced as a daughter of the heart to help even the numbers and give Kim a fighting chance. Sorrells Funeral Home and Crematory 334-347-9598 is in charge of arrangements. To sign a guest register visit www.sorrellsfuneralhomes.com. Sign the guest book at www.eprisneow.com.