Margaret Moore Andrus
August 28, 1940 — August 6, 2021
On August 6, 2021 at 80 years of age, Margaret Clara Moore Andrus, an angel even here on earth, flung the gates of heaven open and took the outstretched hands of our Lord, Robert Herman Andrus (her husband of 57 years who left this earth six years and two months prior), and a host of long-missed heavenly saints as they welcomed another angel home. We know that Robert has been singing, “I Want to Walk You Home”.
Margaret was born to Florence Johanna Coleman Moore and William Moore on August 28, 1940 in Transylvania, LA and resided in northern LA until graduating from Sterlington High School and immediately marrying the love of her life, Robert Herman Andrus on June 1, 1958. The two eventually settled in Oakdale, LA after moving there to comfort the loneliness of Robert’s father following the loss of Robert’s mother. The couple became respected and loved members of that community as they raised their family, were active in their church community, visited family and friends often and became avid fans of boating, skiing and camping with the clan of family and friends at Indian Creek. The old bell on the post in the front yard of their Oakdale home commonly rang by the hands of friends and family who were ushered in for coffee or tea, a visit, competitive card or domino games, supper, or the night. Margaret established herself as the beloved “Mrs. A” to staff, faculty and three generations of students at Oakdale Middle School as she settled into her seat in the front office there. She was most fond of the “…kids who were bad but I never had any trouble with them. They just needed someone to listen them and care.” She loved them and they loved her.
Margaret was a collector of many things, including her famous mugs. “It’s not junk, it’s stuff,” she would say, so opened “Margaret’s Stuff and Such” the antique and novelty store that included her crafts at her house along highway 165.
During her years in Oakdale her granddaughters, Sarah and Allison, loved spending their summers with Grandma and Poppa and traveling the United States with them wearing matching outfits made by grandma. Margaret taught preschool Sunday School for more years than many dare to at First Baptist Church of Oakdale, then Oberlin, and then South Side. After her retirement Margaret and Robert moved to the Arkansas hill country where they named their dream place at the convergence of two creeks outside of Bee Branch, AR “A Touch of Heaven”. Margaret LOVED living next door to her grandson, Quinton, who renamed her Memaw, and then her grandson, Daniel. By that time Margaret had another job caring for Robert whose dementia and physical incapacities were progressing. Margaret never waivered, though called on her faith and prayers to God often as her role of caregiver became more demanding and consuming. When Robert expressed guilt about this Margaret would simply say, “You would do it for me. And you did it for my Momma.” “I love you. Thank you, Momma,” Robert would say.
Margaret is remembered as fiercely kind, loving and thoughtful, spoiling her family and others. She knew heaven would be her final home yet while in her lifetime on earth she was a fierce competitor at cards and Triominoes, a legendary cherry nut cake baker, strong-willed, independent, creative, and curious. She LOVED to travel anywhere, particularly to New Orleans, Branson, and to visit family. In recent years Margaret expanded her travels as she fell in love with cruises and embraced the cruising life and experience wholeheartedly with friends and family. She loved Christmas and adventures, squeezing in lighthouses, covered bridges, zip lining and a hot air balloon ride while traveling with family and friends. She recently jokingly said that she has done everything on her bucket list. Of course, there was that remaining cruise to Antigua in April 2022 that was a last-minute bucket list addition. We should all be inspired to embrace our lives with the same gusto as Margaret.
“I love her. She is so sweet!” are the words most often spoken by others upon hearing Margaret’s name. She has been a spirit on earth who makes all others feel special and loved. And we are feeling lost to think of life without her spiritual, fun, nurturing, loving, hugging, giving presence. She was clear that she was not yet done enjoying this life but God made it clear that it was time for her to go to her heavenly home. She was prepared for that and was not afraid. Her physician, Dr. Tyrone Lee, promised her that if that was God’s will he would make sure it was peaceful and without suffering. Dr. Lee kept that promise and she passed peacefully with the voices of family, music she loved, and a caring nurse holding each hand.
Margaret leaves behind her son, Robert H. Andrus, Jr. (Belinda) with granddaughters, Sarah Cannon (Jeff) and Allison Barga (Thomas), and her son, Clifford Quinton Andrus (Debbie) with grandsons, Quinton and Daniel Andrus. Margaret also leaves her daughter, Espra Andrus (Jennifer), her two great-grandchildren, Payton and Mason Barga, her younger brother, Leonard H. Moore (Kathy) and a tribe of nieces, nephews, close friends and bonus family members. She was preceded in death by her brother, Donald Moore (Shirley). It was no secret that she dearly loved and thought often of her children, bonus daughters that they brought into her life, grandchildren, great grand-children, bonus family members and friends.
Margaret’s instructions were, “I don’t want a funeral where people come and stare at me and cry after I die. I won’t be there anyway. I want them to come visit me while I’m alive so we can enjoy each other.” She knew that she would reside in the kingdom of God and, although she was not quite done enjoying her earthly life, she knew where she was going and felt peace for when God’s time came to call her to her heavenly home. Instead of funeral services, her family wants to invite you to listen to her favorite hymn, “In The Garden”, and the song she always wanted to hear as she passed from her earthly to her eternal heavenly home, “Far Side Banks of Jordan” (Johnny Cash and Roseanne Carter version). You might also toast her with a café mocha. You can follow as we add to her photo album at Bishop-Crites Funeral Home in Greenbrier, Ar.
In lieu of travel and flowers, the family asks that you consider sending a donation to support Renewal Ranch in Conway, AR. Their focus is “Restoring broken lives through Christ”. Margaret has loved their mission and the individuals who have brought their message back to her church of recovery and healing from lives and families broken by addiction to drugs and alcohol.
To honor Margaret with a memorial donation to Renewal Ranch a memorial fund in her name has been created by her church home:
South Side Baptist Church
153 Sulphur Rd.
Damascus, AR 72039
Checks should include in message line: Margaret Andrus/Renewal Ranch.
Donations will be collected by South Side Baptist then forwarded to Renewal Ranch so they can be clearly marked in her memory. Thank you Brother Steve Stephens for your help, support, love and friendship to Margaret and Robert, and for your support to her family during her illness.
If you would like to learn more about Renewal Ranch or donate electronically, you can do so at https://www.therenewalranch.org/ .
Margaret was admitted to the hospital in Clinton, AR with COVID-19 on July 10, 2021, then moved to Conway Regional Medical Center. The family wants to thank Glenda Morin for getting her to the hospital when we are not sure she would have been able to get there herself. We want to thank the staff at Ozark Health Medical Center for working quickly to get her to Conway Regional, and the wonderful and competent physicians, nurses and caregivers in Conway Regional’s CCU for their competent, diligent, kind and compassionate care of both Margaret and her family. Thanks to Dr. Tyrone Lee, her pulmonologist, for loving her and for aggressively caring for her and her family through her illness and guiding us when it was time to let the “Lord have her”. Your spiritual leadership and medical expertise, leadership and care have helped ease her journey and ours. She loved and trusted you and you did not let her down. Margaret’s family wants to also thank her friends, our friends and family, our church families, and everyone who has reached out with prayers and words of support and love throughout this painful time. She has taken a huge piece of our hearts with her and the only balm that soothes our hearts comes from the love of God, family and loved ones, prayers, memories and knowing that she will be with our Daddy, Grandpa, and Poppa reaching for our hands when it is our turn to meet them again. We love you a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck.
With love,
The Andrus Family
Margaret was born to Florence Johanna Coleman Moore and William Moore on August 28, 1940 in Transylvania, LA and resided in northern LA until graduating from Sterlington High School and immediately marrying the love of her life, Robert Herman Andrus on June 1, 1958. The two eventually settled in Oakdale, LA after moving there to comfort the loneliness of Robert’s father following the loss of Robert’s mother. The couple became respected and loved members of that community as they raised their family, were active in their church community, visited family and friends often and became avid fans of boating, skiing and camping with the clan of family and friends at Indian Creek. The old bell on the post in the front yard of their Oakdale home commonly rang by the hands of friends and family who were ushered in for coffee or tea, a visit, competitive card or domino games, supper, or the night. Margaret established herself as the beloved “Mrs. A” to staff, faculty and three generations of students at Oakdale Middle School as she settled into her seat in the front office there. She was most fond of the “…kids who were bad but I never had any trouble with them. They just needed someone to listen them and care.” She loved them and they loved her.
Margaret was a collector of many things, including her famous mugs. “It’s not junk, it’s stuff,” she would say, so opened “Margaret’s Stuff and Such” the antique and novelty store that included her crafts at her house along highway 165.
During her years in Oakdale her granddaughters, Sarah and Allison, loved spending their summers with Grandma and Poppa and traveling the United States with them wearing matching outfits made by grandma. Margaret taught preschool Sunday School for more years than many dare to at First Baptist Church of Oakdale, then Oberlin, and then South Side. After her retirement Margaret and Robert moved to the Arkansas hill country where they named their dream place at the convergence of two creeks outside of Bee Branch, AR “A Touch of Heaven”. Margaret LOVED living next door to her grandson, Quinton, who renamed her Memaw, and then her grandson, Daniel. By that time Margaret had another job caring for Robert whose dementia and physical incapacities were progressing. Margaret never waivered, though called on her faith and prayers to God often as her role of caregiver became more demanding and consuming. When Robert expressed guilt about this Margaret would simply say, “You would do it for me. And you did it for my Momma.” “I love you. Thank you, Momma,” Robert would say.
Margaret is remembered as fiercely kind, loving and thoughtful, spoiling her family and others. She knew heaven would be her final home yet while in her lifetime on earth she was a fierce competitor at cards and Triominoes, a legendary cherry nut cake baker, strong-willed, independent, creative, and curious. She LOVED to travel anywhere, particularly to New Orleans, Branson, and to visit family. In recent years Margaret expanded her travels as she fell in love with cruises and embraced the cruising life and experience wholeheartedly with friends and family. She loved Christmas and adventures, squeezing in lighthouses, covered bridges, zip lining and a hot air balloon ride while traveling with family and friends. She recently jokingly said that she has done everything on her bucket list. Of course, there was that remaining cruise to Antigua in April 2022 that was a last-minute bucket list addition. We should all be inspired to embrace our lives with the same gusto as Margaret.
“I love her. She is so sweet!” are the words most often spoken by others upon hearing Margaret’s name. She has been a spirit on earth who makes all others feel special and loved. And we are feeling lost to think of life without her spiritual, fun, nurturing, loving, hugging, giving presence. She was clear that she was not yet done enjoying this life but God made it clear that it was time for her to go to her heavenly home. She was prepared for that and was not afraid. Her physician, Dr. Tyrone Lee, promised her that if that was God’s will he would make sure it was peaceful and without suffering. Dr. Lee kept that promise and she passed peacefully with the voices of family, music she loved, and a caring nurse holding each hand.
Margaret leaves behind her son, Robert H. Andrus, Jr. (Belinda) with granddaughters, Sarah Cannon (Jeff) and Allison Barga (Thomas), and her son, Clifford Quinton Andrus (Debbie) with grandsons, Quinton and Daniel Andrus. Margaret also leaves her daughter, Espra Andrus (Jennifer), her two great-grandchildren, Payton and Mason Barga, her younger brother, Leonard H. Moore (Kathy) and a tribe of nieces, nephews, close friends and bonus family members. She was preceded in death by her brother, Donald Moore (Shirley). It was no secret that she dearly loved and thought often of her children, bonus daughters that they brought into her life, grandchildren, great grand-children, bonus family members and friends.
Margaret’s instructions were, “I don’t want a funeral where people come and stare at me and cry after I die. I won’t be there anyway. I want them to come visit me while I’m alive so we can enjoy each other.” She knew that she would reside in the kingdom of God and, although she was not quite done enjoying her earthly life, she knew where she was going and felt peace for when God’s time came to call her to her heavenly home. Instead of funeral services, her family wants to invite you to listen to her favorite hymn, “In The Garden”, and the song she always wanted to hear as she passed from her earthly to her eternal heavenly home, “Far Side Banks of Jordan” (Johnny Cash and Roseanne Carter version). You might also toast her with a café mocha. You can follow as we add to her photo album at Bishop-Crites Funeral Home in Greenbrier, Ar.
In lieu of travel and flowers, the family asks that you consider sending a donation to support Renewal Ranch in Conway, AR. Their focus is “Restoring broken lives through Christ”. Margaret has loved their mission and the individuals who have brought their message back to her church of recovery and healing from lives and families broken by addiction to drugs and alcohol.
To honor Margaret with a memorial donation to Renewal Ranch a memorial fund in her name has been created by her church home:
South Side Baptist Church
153 Sulphur Rd.
Damascus, AR 72039
Checks should include in message line: Margaret Andrus/Renewal Ranch.
Donations will be collected by South Side Baptist then forwarded to Renewal Ranch so they can be clearly marked in her memory. Thank you Brother Steve Stephens for your help, support, love and friendship to Margaret and Robert, and for your support to her family during her illness.
If you would like to learn more about Renewal Ranch or donate electronically, you can do so at https://www.therenewalranch.org/ .
Margaret was admitted to the hospital in Clinton, AR with COVID-19 on July 10, 2021, then moved to Conway Regional Medical Center. The family wants to thank Glenda Morin for getting her to the hospital when we are not sure she would have been able to get there herself. We want to thank the staff at Ozark Health Medical Center for working quickly to get her to Conway Regional, and the wonderful and competent physicians, nurses and caregivers in Conway Regional’s CCU for their competent, diligent, kind and compassionate care of both Margaret and her family. Thanks to Dr. Tyrone Lee, her pulmonologist, for loving her and for aggressively caring for her and her family through her illness and guiding us when it was time to let the “Lord have her”. Your spiritual leadership and medical expertise, leadership and care have helped ease her journey and ours. She loved and trusted you and you did not let her down. Margaret’s family wants to also thank her friends, our friends and family, our church families, and everyone who has reached out with prayers and words of support and love throughout this painful time. She has taken a huge piece of our hearts with her and the only balm that soothes our hearts comes from the love of God, family and loved ones, prayers, memories and knowing that she will be with our Daddy, Grandpa, and Poppa reaching for our hands when it is our turn to meet them again. We love you a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck.
With love,
The Andrus Family
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