ANDREW T. CARLSON

1982 - 2013

ANDREW THOMAS CARLSON 1982~2013 Andy Carlson ended his journey on earth December 4, 2013 at Marquis Care in Redding, CA. He was born May 25th, 1982 in Edina, MN to parents Jeffrey N. Carlson and Muriel Stage. He was baptized at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Edina, MN and confirmed in 1995 at St. Mary Magdeline Lutheran Church, Savage, MN. Andy attended Savage Elementary in Savage, MN and participated in youth baseball and basketball traveling teams. At the age of thirteen he received an invitation from People to People, an exchange student program developed by President Eisenhower, to travel to Australia and New Zealand for three weeks. He proudly attended and graduated from St. Thomas Academy, ROTC in Mendota Heights, MN June 2000. During his senior year he went to Italy with his class from St. Thomas Academy. After high school graduation, he attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. During his college years he worked at a local grocery store, belonged to Sigma Epi, the College Republicans and the UND International Student Club. He graduated with a BA in Political Science and a History minor in May of 2005 and returned to Burnsville, MN. Andy moved to Shasta, California to live with his mother, Muriel Mazzone and step-father Mark Mazzone in August of 2005. He worked for the California Conservation Corp. in Redding and Ukiah until Jan 2007. Diagnosed with a neuro-muscular hereditary disease, Andy began to seek out other opportunities. He volunteered with St. Elizabeth Hospital Auxilliary and completed 1100 hours of volunteer service, during which he was awarded the Spirit of Mercy Award. Andy asked at the Western Star Lodge No. 2 in Shasta, CA at the "All you can Stand" breakfast how he could become a Mason. On October 28, 2008 he became a brother of the Western Star Lodge No. 2 and with guidance and determination he received the Diploma in recognition of the Brother's proficiency in the Candidate's Lecture of the Third Degree (32) by order of the Lodge on June 23rd, 2009. During his membership he held the office of Marshal for one term, and was a dedicated orange juice pourer at the monthly Mason breakfasts. He was Received, Admitted and Constituted a Noble of the Mystic Shrine in Ben Ali Shriners of Sacrament, CA on March 27th 2009. He attended the weekly meetings at Lu Lu's in Redding and participated yearly at the Shasta Regional Hospital for the Shriner's Hospital children's screening. Andy received a Certification of Membership for the Scottish Rite 32 degree on 8/14/10. He enjoyed watching college hockey, the UND Fighting Sioux and Minnesota Gophers, and professional hockey especially the San Jose' Sharks and the Minnesota Wild. He also enjoyed watching college football and was a faithful Minnesota Viking fan. Andy was an avid moviegoer and visited the movie theater weekly for the Saturday early Matinee. He always loved to learn about and visit historical places, and any social activity with family and friends was very important to him. Andy was preceded in death by his father, two grandfathers and a grandmother, two aunts, an uncle, one cousin and one second cousin. Andy and his immediate family have been truly blessed by the strong support of family, friends, co-workers, co-volunteers, independent caregivers, professional staff and caregivers, and facility residents. We will be forever grateful for your caring love and prayers. Family and friends are invited to a Masonic Memorial Service, which is planned at the Reading Masonic Lodge # 254, at 160 Masonic Ave., Redding, CA on January 25th 2014, at 11 AM. A light lunch will be served after the ceremony. Interment will be at the Masonic Cemetery in Shasta, CA. Another Memorial will be planned in Minnesota during the summer for Minnesota family and friends. Memorial donations may be made to Mercy Hospice, 1544 Market St., Redding, CA 96001, St. Elizabeth Auxilliary, 2550 Sr. Mary Columba, Red Bluff, CA 96080 or Western Star Lodge #2, 15344 Main St., Shasta, Ca. 96087.