Charles Andrews

Visitation and viewing will be open to friends and family Thursday November 15th at MMS-Payne Funeral Home located at 102 W. 5th St. in Claremore from 2:00-8:00 pm with family receiving guests from 6:00-8:00pm. A celebration of Charles’s life will be held Friday, November 16th at 11:00am at the First United Methodist Church, 13800 E. 106th St. N., Owasso, Oklahoma. Immediately following will be the graveside service at Wards Grove Cemetery in Foyil, Oklahoma. A reception will follow the burial at Charles’s home church at Foyil United Methodist Church, 17278 4th St. Foyil, Oklahoma.
This is the story of Charles Allen Andrews. Born on September 17, 1932. Charles was a man whose voice commanded the attention of the room, he was loved, is missed, and will always be cherished. Our “PaPa” as he liked to be called by his grandchildren, great grandchildren and almost anyone who walked through his front door, was an amazing husband, dad, son, and the hardest working man you will ever meet.
Charles’s story starts on September 17, 1932, the oldest child of four to Henard and Orgie Romines Andrews. Charles was born in Claremore, Oklahoma. He was raised on a family farm in Foyil, Oklahoma. He attended Foyil Public School and went on to letter in basketball in high school. After high school, Charles would go on to serve in the United States Army where he was stationed in Germany for 2 years. After discharging from the Army, Charles would meet the love of his life Martha Earlene Cox in 1956. Charles and Martha met in a particular way while Charles was cruising on Main Street in Claremore, Oklahoma. Martha was avoiding the local police after running a stop sign and she jumped into Charles’s car. They would go on to get married one year later on June 28th 1957 at Foyil United Methodist Church where his family were members for over 70 years. Charles went on to attend the University of Tulsa where he received an education in Business Administration.
Charles and Martha purchased an 80 acre farm on their 10th Anniversary in Claremore in 1967 where they lived throughout their remaining years raising cattle and having a family. They had three children William Allen, Anissa De’nise and Susan Renee’. Charles began his sales career at Gaso Pumps in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He worked for Gaso Pumps for over 25 years in the oilfield industry often traveling all over the United States and Canada. After leaving Gaso Pumps, Charles would go on to open his own oilfield equipment and machine shop called Danco Pump & Supply Company in 1986. His daughters Denise and Susan would work alongside him for the next 32 years until Charles was unable to come to work due to Parkinson’s disease. He never retired because working was his passion. He worked every day of his life whether it was at Danco or on his farm.
Faith, family, and traditions were the cornerstones for Charles’s life foundation. He was an active member of Foyil United Methodist church for more than 70 years. It was the church he attended as a boy with his parents and it was the church he would take his children to as well and he would go on to be an active member long after his children were grown. He served as chairman on many committees, donated his time and money to the church and read the scripture every Sunday to the congregation. His voice was like God was speaking thru him. Powerful and meaningful. You listened to his every word.
Charles’s grandchildren were his pride and joy. There’s no denying that because PaPa would spend hours with them on his farm in Claremore. They would spent time in his garden, feeding the cows, going fishing or pulling them on the cow sled by his tractor. Time spent at PaPa’s house was very special. PaPa and GeGe would also spend weekend after weekend traveling to all of the sporting events, dance recitals, gymnastic competitions and they never missed a school function, graduation or even when they were sick. Their presence were a constant. Family is everything to them.
Charles is survived by his wife of 61 years, Martha (Cox), son William Allen and wife Jana Andrews of Claremore, daughters Denise Richter of Tulsa, and Susan and husband Jay Hill of Owasso, Oklahoma, 11 grandchildren including Chasity and husband Eryn Kavanaugh, Blake Andrews and wife Shannon, Landon Andrews and wife Kieran, Jeremiah Hill, Arin Andrews, Amanda Hill, DeWayne Hill, Cheyenne Hill, Wesley Richter, Diamond Hill and Noah Hill and 6 great grandchildren including Caleb Hayes, Shaela Hayes, Caden Andrews, Alyssa Kavanaugh, Cannon Andrews and Kimber Andrews. Surviving siblings include Dan Andrews, Travis Andrews and Becky Rose. Charles is preceded in death by his parents Henard and Orgie Andrews.
The Andrews family would like to extend our gratitude to all the staff at the Porta Caeli House. The staff cared for Charles and our family with the utmost dignity and loving care. It is a place of pure peace and comfort. We were blessed to have chosen this place of serenity for Charles’s final days with us.