Brian Dale Andrews passed away unexpectedly September 2, 2022, at the age of 61. Ten days earlier he went to the ER thinking he was suffering from severe back pain. It was only then that he was diagnosed with acute myelomonocytic leukemia (AMML), a rare, aggressive form of leukemia. Oh, how we miss our husband, father, grandpa, papa, brother, cousin, uncle, son-in-law, and friend — an all-around good guy, and true disciple of Jesus Christ!
Brian was born December 30, 1960, in Sacramento, California, to David Charles Scott and Patricia Lee Stephens (Pat). Before long, his family moved to Rocklin, where he later attended Rocklin and Parker Whitney elementary schools.
When Brian was nine, and after his parents divorced, Pat married Rosel Hyde Andrews, Jr. (Bud) and Brian moved to Loomis. Bud immediately became “Dad” in word and deed and at age 10 Brian and his older brother, Mark, consented to adoption by their new father who had five other children, Darla, Suzie, Rhonda, Denise, and Kerry.
Brian was not the easiest of children to raise, as he would attest. On one occasion, when he was perhaps eight, there was a conflict between mother and child at the grocery store. Mother and Mark rode home in the car, but Brian had to walk, arriving much later. On another occasion Brian lit firecrackers in the church during Sunday School (he later had to call each of the adults in attendance to apologize). More than once, Pat was heard to say, “If you ever live to be an adult…”
But Brian did live to be an adult, and what an adult he was! Although independent, his life also blended the influence of both parents — Bud’s work ethic, problem solving ingenuity, craftsmanship, love, and affection, and Pat’s independence of mind, loyalty to family and God, and thirst for knowledge.
Brian attended Del Oro High, where he played football and competed in pole vaulting. In addition to school, he completed four years of home study seminary, which meant early morning trips to the Church twice a week.
Brian was one of a large group of young men in his congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who shared the gospel with their peers and who responded to the call of a prophet to serve a full-time mission to a place not of their own choosing. Brian’s call was to the Venezuela Maracaibo Mission, where he served faithfully for two years. Later, Brian used his Spanish language skills in various settings, including while teaching English, with Carol, to native Venezuelans living in the U.S.
Brian graduated from Sierra College and Sacramento State University and later passed his CPA exams. He later furthered his education by taking online classes while working and earned a Master of Business Administration Degree. He began his career at Dole Pineapple, Southern Pacific Railroad, and Bank of the West. Along the way he also became a certified IT project manager and worked on various projects, including projects for Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Wells Fargo, Merrill Lynch, Chevron, Bank of the West, the State of California, several counties in California, and others. Credit for his successful career, of course, belongs to his first four employers: His brother Mark, who took Brian on as a partner in the newspaper delivery business at age 9; Terry Haney, who hired Brian during high school to shovel manure out of her Knicker Knob Stables; Latham Lumber where he earned much of his money for his mission to Venezuela; and Terry Meinzer, who hired Brian to help maintain his rental properties.
Although Brian enjoyed his employment, the heart of his life was his one true love of 37 years, Carol, and their children Blake, Brittney, Bryce, Lacey, and Kelsey and their grandchildren.
Brian was a hands-on dad: hands on as he roughhoused and wrestled with his children, had pillow fights, became a prince and danced with his princess, gave whisker rubs, chased them around the house when they were small, and played and coached soccer and other sports; hands on as he fixed their cars, gave the best massages and built an awesome zip line in the backyard; hands on as he gave priesthood blessings and comforted and loved them; and hands on as he spent time with his children in a hundred different ways. And as he was with his children, so he was with his grandchildren. He always had so much love to share.
Brian was also a first-rate tease to everyone — serious on the inside, but (usually) not too serious on the outside.
Like the Savior, after whom he tried to pattern his life, Brian’s life was spent in service to others — service to his God, service to his family, and service to all with whom he associated. Of particular note, after Bud died, Brian visited his mom nearly every week until she died.
The Scriptures teach that “the faithful elders of this dispensation, when they depart from mortal life, continue their labors in the preaching of the gospel of repentance and redemption, through the sacrifice of the Only Begotten Son of God, among those who are in darkness and under the bondage of sin in the great world of the spirits of the dead.” We are confident this is Brian’s lot — a life of continued service to others while he awaits the resurrection of the dead and his hoped for reuniting with Carol and their children and grandchildren.
Brian is survived by his wife, Carol, and their five children and eight grandchildren: Blake (Jennifer) and sons Gunner, 5, and Chase, 2 months; Brittney (Nick) and daughter Samantha, 18, and son Johnny, 11; Lacey; Bryce (Kelsey Alice) and sons Grant, 10, Hudson, 8, and Hayden, 1; and Kelsey Lee (Evan) and son Liam, 2. Brian is also survived by his siblings Darla (Bill), Suzie (Thom), Rhonda (Brian), Denise (Dave, deceased), Mark (Lecia), and Kerry (Julie). He is also survived by many members of Carol’s family, who also loved him dearly.
Funeral services for Brian will be held Friday, September 23, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at the Browns Valley Ward meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 480 Wrentham Avenue, Vacaville. All are invited to attend. Friends are invited to visit with Brian’s family at the same location immediately prior to the funeral from 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Thoughts and remembrances may be emailed to vacahillschapel.com.
