Vernon and “Sissy” Amdrews, c. 1941

I had fallen asleep reading a not-so-great selection by our Mystery Book Club so I was a bit fuzzy when I answered the phone. It took me a few minutes to realize that the caller was Kathy Archibald, the niece of Vernon Andrews, and she was asking about his family’s Oysterville Cemetery plot. Vernon had died suddenly at his home in Pahrump, Nevada. I am so sorry.

Vernon grew up here in Oysterville. By then, his dad Carl owned the Andrews Garage and his grandma and grandpa, Minnie and Bert, owned the Oysterville Store. Of his immediate family, Vernon was the oldest. He was my age. He had two younger sisters, Alberta who we all called “Sissy” and the younger sister “Cookie” whose real name I don’t remember. Much younger was Tom who I don’t remember at all. Of all of them, Vernon lived longest.

During my seventh grade year when my mom and I lived in Oysterville with my grandparents, I rode the school bus to Ocean Park to school. John Holway and Vernon Andrews rode the bus, too, and we were all in Mr. Sonntag’s class.

Vernon Andrews, 1948

Everyone (and I mean adults, too) thought Vernon was a genius – especially in math. I wish I knew more about his life after Oysterville but, like so many friends of childhood, our paths diverged and I just have hazy memories. Like… he went on to become a physicist (I think) and had an important job with something related to the Atomic Energy Commission (I think) and, for that reason, had top security clearance.

The last time I had a really good visit with Vernon was in 2005 when he came to bury his wife Peggy’s ashes in the Andrews Family cemetery plot. At that time, I was working on Ocean Park School, The First Seven Decades, and I was able to get some of his memories of attending seventh and eighth grades there.

He also told me an interesting anecdote about something that had happened since his retirement. He had been notified that a paper he had written some years previously – I think it had to do with toxic emissions by a specific category of factories – was to be read at a big conference and he was invited to attend. He accepted the invitation but when he got there he was denied entrance to the event because he no longer had the proper security clearance. It had been retired right along with him.

Carl Andrews Garage c. 1940

Kathy (who is Sissy’s daughter) and I talked for quite a while. She has only been to Oysterville a few times – none of them recently – and she was surprised and pleased to learn that the Andrews Garage is still intact and that new owner Bradley Huson is gradually restoring it. As plans now stand, she will bring Vernon’s ashes to be buried at the time of the All School Reunion this summer.

“Bring pictures,” I said. “I know Bradley would love to see more pictures of both the house and garage.” And, of course, so would I. Besides our memories, those buildings are the only tangible reminders of Vernon and his family that are left here in Oysterville.