Mike Andrews

Mr. Mike Andrews, 70, of Linden, passed away Thursday, August 22, 2024, at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born September 12, 1953 in Lobelville, the son of the late James Andrews and Betty (Roberts) Andrews Craig. He was raised by Betty (Roberts) Craig and Robert Craig, as well as family friends in the Pineview community. He attended grade school at Pineview School where his love for basketball and baseball started. He graduated from Perry County High School in 1971. While attending Perry County High School, he worked his way onto the varsity basketball team, and was also actively involved in FFA. Mike went on to graduate from the University of Tennessee at Martin with a BS degree in Animal Science in 1975. He then moved back to Linden to start his family and began working at Tennessee Gas in Lobelville. He made life- long friends there and also when he joined the local men’s softball league. He enjoyed several good years of spending time with family and friends, playing softball, hunting, working, and farming.

In September of 1987 Mike suffered a very serious, life changing hunting accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down. He faced that obstacle with a lot of grit and determination. A few months into getting adjusted to his new way of life, he discovered he could still do many of the things he did before the accident. He figured out how to drive, garden, mowing the yard, hunt, and fish. Then as his children became involved in baseball and softball, he took on one of his most important roles. He became known as Coach Mike to many Dixie Youth baseball and softball players and also to so many of the men he had played alongside of in the men’s softball league. He went on to coach travel baseball and softball teams, high school baseball teams, and middle school softball teams. He definitely made a huge impact on so many young ball players lives’ for over 30 years. Mike also became involved in different aspects of the community. He became a member of the Dixie Youth Board, Co-Op Board, Industrial Board, president of the Parks and Recreation Board, president of our local NWTF chapter, was also involved in the Brush Creek Hunting Club, and the Buffalo River Longbeards. His love for basketball also helped him stay active, where he became a member of multiple different men’s wheelchair basketball teams. The last team he played for won back-to-back national titles. He helped keep the community’s love for basketball alive by helping start the JR Pro basketball league. He was a member of the Viking Legacy Committee, and as most of you know he was one of the most committed Viking and Lady Vikings basketball fans for over half of his life.

In his later years, he enjoyed spending time with his family the most. His wife, kids, and grandkids were at the center of his world, as well as the Lord above. He recommitted his life to God and became a member of Tom’s Creek Baptist Church, so we know God welcomed him with open arms into heaven, where he is whole again and at peace. Mike was preceded in death by his father James Andrews, mother Betty (Roberts) Craig, stepfather Robert Craig, godparents Ila and Argus Horner, and stepson Keith Mason.

Mike is survived by his wife Sally Andrews, his daughter Amber (Andrews) Whitt, his son-in-law John Whitt, his son Mitchell Andrews, his daughter-in-law Laura (Campbell) Andrews, stepdaughters Nicole (Butler) Trull, Jessica (Chris) Torrez, and Maranda Butler. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Jayce Whitt, Kaylin Whitt, Gauge Andrews, Waylon Andrews, and step grandchildren, Trevor Pafford, Zach Warren, Kaine Trull, Tyler Trull, Nevaeh Amaru, Katori Collins, and Lakota Butler and many, many friends.

His love was a constant, his kindness a given, and his skills a blessing. Mike’s life was a testament to the power of love and the beauty of a helping hand. This is not goodbye for his memory will live on in the countless lives he touched with his loving spirit. He definitely left Perry County better than he found it, and his absence will be felt deeply by his family, friends, and all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Anyone wishing to make a donation in Mike's memory may make those to the Ayers Foundation Trust, P.O. Box 756, Parsons, Tn. 38363

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.