Loretta Mae (Parker) Andrews was born on April 15, 1937 to Harley and Cora Mae (Thornton) Parker at her grandmother’s house in Phillips County and passed away on Saturday, April 4, 2020 at the Phillips County Retirement Center at the age of 82.
Loretta grew up in Speed and attended school there until transferring to Phillipsburg High School her freshman year and graduating with the class of 1955. She married her high school sweetheart, Donovan Lee Andrews on August 28, 1955, at the Calvary Baptist Church, Phillipsburg, KS, and to this union four children were born: Gregory Scott, Kerry Lee, Candace Dawn and Rebecca Jean.
Loretta grew up attending the Calvary Baptist Church where she was saved and baptized. Later in life she became a member of the United Methodist Church. She had a love for playing the piano. When she was younger she played for a church broadcast over the radio in Hays, Kansas, her parents drove her there each Sunday and later she played for church services and her family. This ability to beautifully play by ear was a special talent that Alzheimer’s didn’t steal from her.
Don and Loretta owned several businesses in Phillipsburg: Don’s Dairy, Phillips 66 service station and Don Andrews Insurance Agency. Loretta helped with bookwork and also worked as Jr. High Secretary and at the Board of Education office in Phillipsburg. Loretta and Don enjoyed life together traveling, racing go-carts, taking their four children on many vacations, boating and camping. After her husband passed away in 1992, she filled her time with family, friends and her mother Cora Mae. Loretta enjoyed many trips with friends and family, shopping, and babysitting babies.
Loretta was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother. Her greatest joys were her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was known as GaGa to the grands and all of their friends. She was their biggest supporter and enjoyed family celebrations, with Christmas being her favorite time of the year.
After struggling with Alzheimer’s, Loretta moved into Prairie Wind Villa assisted living and three years later was transferred to the Phillips County Retirement Center. She gained many friends while living there as her smile and big blue eyes still showed her personality.
Loretta was preceded in death by her husband, Don, and parents Harley and Cora Mae.
Survivors include her children: Greg Andrews and wife Barb, Elephant Butte, NM; Kerry Andrews and wife Chrissy, Dorrance, KS; Candy Yoxall and husband Barry, Phillipsburg, KS; and Becky Yoxall, Lee’s Summit, MO. Her brother: Bobby Parker and wife Cindy, McPherson, KS. Sisters-in-law: Connie Nelson and husband Virgil; and Jean Hawes, Olathe, KS. Eight grandchildren: Aaron Andrews and wife Jenna, Great Bend, KS; Brandi Towns and husband Brandon, Austin, TX; Nathan Andrews and wife Tracey, Ellis, KS; Travis Yoxall, Phillipsburg, KS; Andrew Yoxall, Lee’s Summit, MO; Alex Yoxall and Eric Yoxall, Shawnee, KS; and Tyler Ruble, Temple, TX. Great grandchildren: Alivia and Brecken Towns; Adelynn, Braxton and Mia Yoxall; Nora Andrews; Carter Andrews, and many nieces and nephews.
Private family services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 8, 2020 in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with Pastor Blake Stanwood officiating. Funeral services may be viewed live on Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel’s Facebook page. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery, Phillipsburg.
Mrs. Andrews will lie in state from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, April 7, 2020, at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Phillips County Retirement Center Alzheimer’s Unit or the United Methodist Church.