Donald F Andrews

People knew Donnie by his stories and his laugh, bringing sunshine on a rainy day by sharing his joy of life. On Tuesday, August 26, 2025 that laughter joined the angel chorus after 23 months at home in hospice. 

Born in June 1951 to the late Shirley and Donald Andrews Sr, the first of 16 children, he grew up in St Philip Neri Parish attending Mass daily. Following Scecina High School, he studied chemistry at Indiana Central College where he met his soulmate, Mary Kelly Baker. When they married they became a blended family of his 2 sons and her 3 daughters. 

His priorities were God first, family second followed by friends then work. While still in college, he joined IPALCO as a lab assistant then took an opportunity with a water treatment company working up to finally incorporating his own company, Clearwater Performance Chemicals from which he retired on medical disability. He carried the cross of several medical conditions but never let that define him. When asked how he defined success he answered, “I knew I was successful when my children began to teach me “. He was an incorrigible spoiler of the young, buying them anything and everything they asked for. He let his granddaughters paint his nails and slather him with makeup before attending their tea parties. Donnie always regretted he and Mary couldn’t have children together but he was over the moon that his granddaughter Isabella spent many of her 17 years with him; he was her ‘PopPop’ and at the end of every day he told her he loved her to the moon and back. 

Serving as volunteer in many capacities his favorites were as a coach for CYO boys sports and as the first lay minister to take communion to Catholics patients at St Francis Hospital. He continued to volunteer and spread God’s love until his body would no longer cooperate.

 Survivors besides his wife Mary include his children: Matthew (Lori), David (Amy), Kelly (Doug), Michelle (Brad) and Robin. Grandchildren include Zac, Madison (Austin), Keyona (James), Isabella, Lilliana, Delia and Delton. Siblings include Ron (dec), Vicki (Steve), Terri (dec), Patty (Don), Keith (Terri), Mark, Karl (dec), Maria (Steve), Scott (Kate), Michael (Janis), Kim (John), Todd (Anne), Rachael (Mike), Jayma and Reba (Chris) along with 60+ nieces and nephews. He wanted to acknowledge the excellent hospice team from Adoration Hospice, especially Melanie and Abigail

. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St Philip Neri, September 9, 2025 at 10 am in Indianapolis. In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to build wells for people most in need. He has already built 6 wells. His favorite quote was, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened “, Dr. Seuss.