Wallace Christopher Andrews Jr.

Wallace Christopher (Chris) Andrews, Jr. (61), an incomparable father, brother, uncle and friend, passed

away on January 1, 2015 from complications arising from the sudden onset of a devastating illness. He

was born on January 14, 1953 and enjoyed growing up in Gregory, Texas, where he excelled in athletics,

especially pole vaulting, track and football. He graduated from Gregory-Portland High School as

Salutatorian in 1971 and then received a B.S. degree in Biology from Southwest Texas State University

in 1975. He always enjoyed telling stories about his college days and of the good times he had with his

Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity brothers.

Chris loved life and lived it to the fullest. His passion for fishing and boating began as a young man

when his father taught him how to bait a hook and cast a line. He loved music and traveled the country

in a rock band for a few years. He spent many enjoyable and sometimes frustrating rounds on the golf

course with his buddies, forever seeking the elusive hole-in-one, but having more fun joking and betting.

He enjoyed many evenings on the town with his beloved nieces and nephews, who could rarely outpace

their Mack Daddy. Chris, a vibrant and charismatic optimist, never met a stranger and was someone

that everyone wanted to be around. Always the life of the party, he loved to tell jokes and his full belly

laugh was contagious. He enjoyed cooking for his friends and family and entertaining in his home. He

was a great fan of the New Orleans Saints. Loving and generous, he would give anyone a helping hand.

After working in Austin for several years, Chris moved to Pensacola, FL in 1985, and built his own

business from scratch. His hard work, gregarious personality and sincerity enabled his company, MD

Software Solutions, to succeed. Many of his clients became close friends; they knew Chris was someone

they could count on.

However, Chris never lost his love for Austin, and in early 2014, he bought a small condo there and

began working from his “Austin office”, while visiting family and friends and enjoying the Austin music

scene.

Chris’s greatest love was his daughter, Rachael. She was Daddy’s little girl, his flower child, his travel

baby, and he was so proud to be her father. For several years when she was a child, he took her on

Disney cruises for her summer birthday, something she will always cherish. Chris always spoke lovingly

of her and made sure she had everything she needed or wanted. When he was on business trips, she

remembers how he used to leave her money hidden in the house with cryptic notes to find its location.

Chris is predeceased by his parents, W. C. and Violet Andrews of Portland, Texas and his nephew,

Wesley Linebarger. He is survived by his daughter, Rachael, his sisters, Susie Andrews and Libby

Linebarger (Dale), his stepson, Royal Vannatte, and his nieces and nephews: Roger Linebarger,

Rebekkah Linebarger, Cheryl Morris, Billy Joe Andrews, Brent Bockholt, Kristen Andrews, Erica Bell,

David Linebarger, and Annie Linebarger, who will all miss him more than can be imagined.

Following a private burial, a memorial service to celebrate Chris’s life will be held on Tuesday, January 6,

2015, at 11:00 a.m. at Violet Andrews Park, 305 Wildcat Drive, Portland, Texas. To honor Chris and his

love for GPHS, memorial contributions may be made to The Gregory-Portland Education Foundation, c/o

Paul Clore, 608 College, Portland, TX 78374.