Nancy Andrews was born in June 1937 to J.H. and Vera Penry in Houston, Texas. She passed on December 6th, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Nancy spent most of her life in Orange, Texas, growing up during the boomtown years that the area enjoyed during WWII and the 1950’s. The oldest of five daughters, her little sisters couldn’t have asked for a better older sister. Nancy blazed the independent path, standing up for her sisters to their overly strict parents.
While Nancy was rarely the center of attention by choice, she was often the smartest person in the room. She was often reserved in her opinions, but those who knew her were never fooled by her quiet demeanor. Never condescending, her superior intellect was often demonstrated through her quick wit and straight to the point observations that those who were closest to her would hear when she leaned over and quietly pointed them out, usually making those around her laugh and smile.
Nancy married Clifton (Bubba) Andrews immediately following graduation as the Valedictorian from Stark Highschool in 1955. Their courtship included many street drag races as well as many 100 plus mile per hour races against the clock from Port Arthur back to Orange to meet Nancy’s strictly enforced 9 PM curfew. In a nonchalant way, Nancy would tell stories of catching big air under Bubba’s car as they crested the top of the Rainbow bridge and then worrying whether the car had enough brakes as they descended the other side. While fast, drag racing cars weren’t noted for their brakes.
Nancy and Bubba were blessed within a year after marriage with the 1st of 4 boys. God bless her, Nancy gave birth to 4 boys, all within 4 years of each other. Five years later, Nancy and Bubba rounded out their brood with their 5th child, a little girl. In the early years of her marriage in addition to being a housewife and mother of 4 young, rowdy boys (and later a girl), she was also the office manager, bookkeeper, and repair parts driver for Bubba’s struggling sawmill business in Deweyville. Nancy was often seen racing around southeast Texas in her station wagon well above speed limits during these years with several children and her sister Martha in tow, fetching parts for broken down sawmill machinery.
Following the sawmill years, she entered the job market and worked for Orange Bank. A few years later she began her career with the Internal Revenue Service in Beaumont rising to the level of supervisor. In the 1990’s the IRS transferred her to Houston where she continued to work until her retirement at 63. She spent the remaining years of her life in the Cypress area of northwest Houston volunteering at the local hospital, singing in the choir at church, and spending time with family and friends.
Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, JH and Vera Penry, her husband Clifton (Bubba) Andrews, her son Clifton (Rex) Andrews, Jr, daughter in law Sandra Andrews, grandaughter Erica Andrews, grandson Jake Porterfield and 3 brother’s in law.
Left to cherish her memory are sons Tracy and Becky Andrews of Bridge City, Texas, Chris and Michelle Andrews of Austin, Texas, Scott and Mandy Andrews of Alleyton, Texas, and daughter Lynn Gamble of Orangefield, Texas. Nancy also leaves behind grandchildren: Ashley Norris, Carley Oubre, Kember Andrews, Aaron Andrews, Lauren Darby, and Casey Gamble, sisters Deanna Beck, Vivian Walston, Mary Fusilier and Martha Armstreet along with 8 great grandchildren and 2 brothers in law.
Funeral services will be held at Klein Funeral home 9719 Wortham Boulevard, Houston, Texas on Saturday December 11, 2021 at 2pm with visitation from 1 to 2pm. Her brother-in-law Roger Armstreet will officiate the ceremony.
In lieu of flowers, we request that donations be made in Nancy’s honor to an Alzheimer’s fund of your choice.
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