Obituary of Clyde C Andrews

Obituary provided and written by the family. Clyde was born on January 31, 1935 to Clyde (CC) and Alice (Lewis/Haines) Andrews in Sunnyside, WA. His mother died tragically in a farm accident in 1938, and in 1940, his father CC married Cora Smithwick (Buddy) who raised him as her own. Clyde was raised in the Yakima Valley, graduating from Prosser High School in 1954 and marrying his wife of 69 years, Bonnie Lenhart, that same year. In 1958, along with their first two children, Clyde and Bonnie moved to Othello with Clyde's father, CC, to start Othello Ice and Cold Storage (today's Simplot potato processing plant). Clyde was active in the community as they raised their three children as members of the Othello Christian Church. He was a dedicated Gideon, personally handing out thousands of Bibles throughout his 50 year membership. In 1975, the family moved to Bruce to restore and preserve the 1918 "Rayburn" farmhouse at their farm on Foley Road. Clyde then built Sun Country Storage in 1977, operating it until his retirement in 1998. His passion for historical preservation continued, playing an instrumental role in the restoration of the 1910 Pullman executive railroad car, The Abraham Lincoln, and maintaining his own collection of over a dozen WWII military vehicles. He is preceded in death by his daughter Carole Prior (died February 5, 2021), sisters LaDella (Glen) Withers and Lola(Elmer) Schilperoort, Aunt Alta (Marvin) Moore, niece Penny (Dave) Leiker, step siblings Jean (Eugene) Meloy, Shirley (Bill) McConnell, Don (Elieen) Smithwick, and Flora Chezum, and his beloved parents. He is survived by his wife Bonnie, son-in-law Mike (Linda) Prior, grandson Nathaniel (Jody) Prior and great-granddaughters Savannah, Gracie, & Cosette, grandson Matthew (Becky) Prior and great-grandchildren Kate & Micah; son Curtis (Kim Grady) and granddaughter Katelyn (Danny) Daniel; son Craig (Kelly Thieme) and grandchildren Beth (Laurel) & Phillip; nieces Jackie Sanders, Glenda (Richard) Bateman, Mikie Withers, Julia (Harold) Syria, & Paula Schilperoort (Rick Jasper); nephews Eric, Andy (Karen), & Matt (Mart) Schilperoort. Clyde Charles Andrews died peacefully on February 5, 2024 after a life well lived, now singing praises once again to our savior.