Andy Archible - Online Memorial Website

Love is stronger than death.
So I must be content to know that
love is not affected by death--
it doesn't end, it doesn't diminish,
it doesn't change.
Instead, love is immortalized
and eternalized through death.
And the possibility of that love ever
being damaged or broken
is eliminated forever.
I'll put my trust in love.

If tears could build a stairway

If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane

I would walk right up to heaven and bring you back home again.

 

No farewell words were spoken, no time to say goodbye

You were gone before a knew it and only God knows why.

 

My heart still aches with sadness and secret tears still flow

What it meant to love you, no one can ever know.

 

But now i know you want me to mourn for you no more

To remember all the happy times, life still has much more in store.

 

Since you'll never be forgotten, i pledge to you today

A hollowed place within my heart is where you'll always stay.

Just a few days ago i had a dream about you. You, Leila, Cindy, Saysha, Grandma and myself were standing in my kitchen talking, and for some reason i was the only one that knew you had passed on. It was the happiest i have ever been to see you again and i started crying but no one understood why. You leaned down and gave me a great big hug, which even now i can feel you hugging me. You told me everything is  going to be okay and you loved me. You knew why i was crying. I will cherish that hug, and so many more from the past, for the rest of my life. I know that was really you in my dream trying to comfort me and i thank you from the bottom of my heart. You being gone is still heart wrenching but i know you are still here with all of us. I love you so much!

I have many many fond memoried of Andy. Mostly his smile, and his laugh.I remember the tie die party at his and Ralph's house that was so much fun. And he was at our wedding, told me many times it was the most fun he'd ever had at a wedding. Then he watched my belly grow with Alyssa, amazed at the changes, and even more amazed at the life created. He always said she was "everyone's" baby meaning everyone in "the group". Things happen, life changes us, and the past few years we didn't see him as much. I thought/think of him often, and would call him occasionally. Always happy, always laughing. I have a jean jacket he left at a party at my house 4 years ago, give or take. It still has his pack of cigarettes in the pocket. I told him when we moved he would have to come to NYC to get it....he thought I lived to far North in Round Rock, but he laughed, said he would come. I loved him and will miss him greatly. Every time I will think of him, I will smile through the tears because I know he would rather I remember  him with a smile.  

I met Andy 29 years ago this week.  To say we were friends is not enough....We have laughed, cried and drank together. And yes!!! ask Mom slept together!!!! Mom found us in Andy's bed... passed out with all our clothes including winter hats and boots. Please forgive me for the ink on that back seat of the Levi Gremlin......Andy was always happy. He was proud of his family and could not have loved them more. Friends became family because if you were Andy's friend the family also became your family.

Andy would call me, usually in the early morning  2-3 am and just want to talk.....He knew I would always answer and always be here. Please know I'm there in Texas with you.....Andy's family and I will always be here waiting for the call. A picture with hair...some of the little people may never remember the hair...   

Although I did not know Andy for very long, he always made me feel like we were life long friends.  Any time I saw him, he would give me a big ol' hug.  He made everyone around him feel special and that takes a very special person.  Andy was that person.  He will be greatly missed. 

Melinda

Andy will always be in my heart.  He is the only person I've ever met who loved and collected buffalos besides me, so we decided from the beginning we would always be connected.  One of my favorite memories was how we used to joke about how we should get buffalo tatoos on our hips.  I would get the head, and he woud get the butt so when we stood together we made one whole buffalo.  I loved how silly he was.  The last time I was with him, we were walking down the street singing songs from musicals.   I loved how when he said good-bye he always kissed you right on the lips.  Andy always made whoever he was with feel so special. 

I met Andy at Motorola several years back when we worked on a project together.  I have trouble with names and quite often transpose first and last.  Andy was no exception.  I mixed up Andy and Archible and he quickly became (and remained) Archie to me.  We're still laughing about that one, aren't we Archie?

Andy was my smoking buddy.  He would meet me outside in the smoking area at work and we would talk about everything and anything.  He would tell me about his camping trips and he always looked forward to the weekend.  Andy was constantly in a good mood, a great person to sit and talk with.  He was smart and funny and always had a smile ready for anyone.  Andy was a pretty good cook.  He shared some of his recipes with me and I will remember him every time I make one.  He has many friends that miss him.  Andy was one of the sweetest and kindest humans on this earth.

It was fun at Colorado Bend Easter camping when it would rain and there would be a lake in our campsite.  Andy would let us push each other in his kayak.  He would let us push him too and we would always crack up laughing with him.  I liked all of his Life is Good t-shirts too.  They're cool and he was so funny!

When we go camping Andy always takes Leila's koozie and she says, "Andy, did you take my kooozie!?"  He pretends he doesn't know what she's talking about and then he gives it to her and laughs.  At Kerrville it was funny on belly button day.   Everyone kept patting their belly buttons and saying how big their bellies were.  Andy made me laugh.

Andy was the man I inspire to be one day. I can never remember a time when he was not happy and smiling. He lived life to it's fullest and didn't slow down for anyone, while at the same time he was there anytime someone needed him and would always lend a helping hand. He loved everyone and in return recieved the greatest love from all his family and friends. I doubt there was ever a person who met Andy and didn't instantly fall in love with him. He will be greatly missed and his kind words and loving heart will stay with us all forever. I feel blessed to have been his Nephew and have him as a father figure in my life.

I will never forget you Uncle Andy and i'll carry your spirit in my heart for as long as i live. I hope one day to be half the man that you were.

I love You!

My favorite memory of Andy was a particularly miserable Easter camp-out in 2005 when we were all completely drenched and trying valiantly to start a fire.  Andy, Charles and Mike gamely gathered up some logs and were about to do what they could to get everyone warm and dry, and since it was early in the day, Andy couldn't resist making a crack about "morning wood."  That's the sort of cheerful irreverence I so appreciated about him, and know that I and many others will miss.

 

I suspect he's sitting around a big warm camp fire with Father Dave right about now, joking swapping stories and waiting to visit his memorial celebration to hear all the things his friends and family will have to say. 

 

Our prayers are with his family, and with all who loved him; Debb, you especially.  See you Saturday.

Dr. Marshall

 

 

 

On Friday before the accident Andy and I were at the camp site making snacks for the trip.  He did not have a sharp knife, but he had a cutting board.  I did not have a cutting board, but I had a sharp knife.  We were laughing about how when he did not have something we needed I did and when I did not have something we needed he did.  He told me that we could never camp without each other because we complimented each other in that area.  Then he kissed me and we gave each other a high five.  In time I will camp and I will always take a part of Andy with me.  He loved camping, he love all of us, he just loved everything.   That and much, much more is what I remember about my dear sweet ANDY.