Raymond Andrews

“Lefty,” AKA Raymond Chester Andrews, left the field of play July 21, relocating to the bleachers in heaven to watch over us from above. Born January 2, 1928, in Detroit, Ray Andrews lived to the max, with his beloved wife, Veda, his family, baseball, the Navy and the Veterans’ Administration, golf and the dairy as guideposts. Born to Raymond Kenneth Andrews and Olive Blanche Hart, he leaves behind his wife Veda May (Griffy) Andrews. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother Donald Andrews and his granddaughter Kelly Flanigan. He is survived by his son, Kenneth Lee Andrews (Jacqueline), his daughter Karen Sue Seitz (Michael); his grandchildren Matthew James Parks (Kelly), Erica Jane Fontan (Tony), Kenneth Raymond Andrews (Nichole), Nicole May Seitz and Jody Christine Seitz; his great-granddaughters Jessica Andrews, Chelsea Flanigan and Jennifer Flanigan; and his great-great-granddaughter Camryn Nicole Matusek and a girl child expected in September. Ray joined the Navy in 1945, going on leave to marry his best girl, Veda, in 1946, just weeks after their 18th birthdays. He was present at the nuclear testing in the Pacific Ocean and spent early days in California. He was recruited to play baseball with the Chicago Cubs, but decided instead on a life in Michigan. Twin Pines Dairy hired him in part due to his baseball skills, initiating a life in the dairy. He was an active athlete throughout, playing and coaching baseball and softball, bowling and golfing. “It never rains on the golf course,” he taught his children and when playing with his granddaughters, indicating “we don’t keep score.” He was a mentor and role model for generations of children, teaching them to swim, ride a bicycle and drive cars. He built boats, three of which with Ken’s help. After retiring from Farm Maid Dairy, he and Veda moved to Grand Haven and lived out their dream of daily visits to the beach and watching the sun sink over Lake Michigan. He loved the Detroit Tigers and was a fan to the end (literally). He will be interred at White Chapel Cemetery in Troy. Donations in his and Veda’s names are welcome to the Parkinson’s Foundation, www.parkinson.org. Please share a memory on Raymond's Tribute Wall