Carrol "Corky" Lee Andrews

Carrol Lee Andrews was born October 6, 1937 in Vinita, Oklahoma to Wilbur and Lena (Price) Andrews. Carrol received the nickname of Corky from his dad. Corky lived with his mom and three siblings in Adair, OK while his dad was in the Navy during the time his dad served in the US Navy during World War II. Wilbur and Lena purchased a small house and 80 acre farmstead west of Welch, Oklahoma and moved the growing family there after the war was over. Corky, being the eldest of 5 children, had many responsibilities on the farm. Not many of these were easy tasks and free time was hard to come by. He learned to hunt, fish, grow fruits and vegetables, and ultimately how to survive off of the land. Of these activities, he liked to fish the most. Maybe that is why he attained the nickname “Corky”. He worked side by side with his family to keep things going.

Corky graduated from Welch High School in 1955. He was involved with the Welch FFA during his high school years. After Graduating, Corky worked for Root Manufacturing in Baxter Springs, Kansas. The roads between his parent’s house and workplace were rough and hard on his vehicle costing him most of his wages. Searching for a better way of making a living, Corky enlisted in the Navy in 1957.

Just prior to heading off to bootcamp, Corky started dating a neighbor girl who lived two and half miles from where he grew up. Their relationship continued and deepened even though Corky was stationed on Midway Island and Hawaii thousands of miles from northeast Oklahoma. Upon Returning home from his 4 years of service in the Navy, Corky wed that neighbor girl, Deloris Babcock, July 22, 1961 at the courthouse in Vinita, Oklahoma.

They took up residence in Tulsa, OK, where Deloris worked in an office and Corky attended Spartan School of Aeronautics for a short period of time before entering into the workforce at Century Electronics in Tulsa. He was hired on a temporary basis for a particular electronics project. Upon the completion of that project, he was faced with either layoff or work in the debur department of the machine shop. Corky chose to continue his employment at Century Electronics in order to maintain an income. Even though this company changed ownership and product type several times during his career as a machinist, Corky remained a steadfast loyal employee for 45 years and retired in September 2007. Corky acquired the nickname “Andy” early in his career from his many coworkers. Andy also met his best friend, Bob Myers, while working at the same company.

Corky, his wife, and son lived in Tulsa for 14 years then moved to the Collinsville, OK area in 1976, where they built a house on 10 acres with the help of family and friends. He planted a large garden every year and fed family and friends all over.

His hobbies included fishing, hunting, gardening, pecan tree grafting, playing pitch with friends and family, and cutting wood. Visiting the family farm where he grew up was one of his favorite pastimes.

Corky attended church at Collinsville Nazarene Church for many years and was actively involved with the senior group there.

Corky was preceded in death by his parents, Wilbur and Lena, and sister, Nancy.

Corky is survived by his wife of almost 63 years, Deloris, son Bill and his `wife Melissa, three grandchildren, three great grandchildren, a brother, Virgil, and sisters, Betty and Sadie as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Services are under the direction of Collinsville Dolton Funeral Home.