Nora Andes

Nora Abbie Crummett Andes took her first breath on December 17, 1946. She was born to Leona and Glenn Crummett in Staunton, Virginia. One of the things she liked about her birthdate was that she shared it with her uncle, Ralph Simmons, and later in life, her granddaughter, Tara Orebaugh. She was born into what would become a large family. Abbie was the second born of six children. She was a caregiver from the start. Her sisters remember her as being a second mom and trying to keep them in line, though Abbie too enjoyed partaking in much of their childhood antics. Her siblings remember her going the extra mile by making doll clothes for her youngest sister, Carol Sue (Susie), even after she got married.

Abbie married her high school sweetheart, Donald Andes, on July 16, 1965 after his no-nonsense marriage proposal. He said that it was 'about time they got married' and shortly before her graduation from Fort Defiance High School, they did. Their love brought three handsome boys into the world, Bryan, Michael, and Mark Andes while residing at 1293 Lee Hwy, Verona Virginia.

As a young woman, Abbie joined Donny's church, Middle River Church of the Brethren, where she served for decades. You could find her on Saturday evenings making the Communion bread and perhaps teaching the children the following day. Abbie also served as a deaconess and traveled with her husband and their church to Haiti on a mission trip.

While her boys were still home, Abbie continued her education and became a licensed practical nurse. She went to work at Western State Hospital in Staunton. As if she wasn't busy enough, she also helped with the family business of raising little chicks and growing them to the point where they were ready to be sent to their next stop. She helped raise tens of thousands of chickens in the years they ran the houses. She went on to retire from Western State Hospital and used her nursing skills to take care of her own mother.

Abbie liked an adventure! If you told her to get ready to go she would without question. In her younger years, she and Donny would travel from state to state with a few European countries thrown in the mix. Donny would sometimes take them to their destination in one of the small planes that he could fly. We have the memories of their stories Abbie shared as well as of photos of them highlighting their exploits.

The energy Abbie had is admirable and when faced with challenges she came out ready to do the work. She began boxing a few years ago and was so proud of her improvements. There was no holding her back when she put her mind to something. She enjoyed sewing her granddaughter's dresses and teddy bears for her young sons. Painting was another one of her activities she not only

enjoyed but was good at. Don't get me started on her skills in the kitchen!

If shopping could be considered a sport, Abbie would receive a gold medal. As much as she loved shopping for shoes, she loved shopping for all her grand and great-grandbabies. You may have even passed her in the Good Will, trying to choose the perfect book for the children. She gave much to those she loved and it was a bit of a running joke that whenever we saw her, she had found something new for one of us.



To say all of that, she loved big. She persevered in her faith until the end, through many trials. She prayed not for herself but for others. She was feisty even in her last days. Just ask those who took such good care of her at Bright View Baldwin Park. She was the quintessential grandmother and her family never doubted her love and devotion.

Nora Abbie Andes, 78, found complete peace with her savior on February 20, 2025, in Staunton, Virginia. She is preceded in death by her husband, of nearly forty years, Donald Reid Andes, and her brothers, Glenn Crummett, and James (Jimmy) Crummett. She is survived by her three sons and their wives; Bryan and Lynn, Michael and Colleen, and Mark and Laura. Her grandchildren are Tracy, Jacob, Megan (Jeremiah), Tara (Tyler), Connor, Brent, Owen, Kaylan, and Colben, and 5 great-grandchildren, as well as Abbie's sisters and their spouses, Margaret and Thomas Chrisman, Carol Sue and Douglas Johnson, and William and Terrie Crummett.

A celebration of life will take place beginning at 2 pm Saturday, March 8, 2025, at Middle River Church of the Brethren, in Fort Defiance. Donations may be made to Hospice of the Shenandoah in her memory in lieu of flowers.