Andrew Lara Sanchez, Jr., (58) passed away peacefully at his home in Weatherford, Texas on the morning of January 14, 2013 after a long battle with liver cancer. He was surrounded by his loving family and friends. He was born on September 15th to Andres Lara Sanchez, Sr and Augustina Rivera (Thompson) in Seymour, Texas. He served in the Army Airborne division from 1971 to 1976 as a trained paratrooper. Andrew is survived by his mother, Tina Thompson of Hot Springs Arkansas, father, Andres Lara Sanchez, Sr. of Fort Worth, TX, a son, Andrew Pecina Sanchez, III; three sisters; Diana (Mark) Swartz; Sylvia (Adnan) Fellah both of Ohio; and Penny (Nikky) Sanchez of Hot Springs, Arkansas. Aunts and Uncles, Lydia Herrera, Brenda Rivera, Abe (Jeanne) Rivera,  Phil (Becky) Rivera and John Rivera all of Ohio and Eddie (Marge) Rivera of Hot Springs, Arkansas and Maria Garcia of Lubbock, TX and special cousin Janie (Ernest) Diaz of Arlington, Texas. Nieces: Amanda DeAnda Cook (Noah & Isaiah), Ashley Swartz, Nadiah, Kamilla & Noalle Fellah. Cousins: Tony, David, Danny, Adam & Corina Herrera, Elizabeth Herrera Deal, Bobby, Randy, Lonny, Dion, Tammy, Diego, Eric, Matt, Johnny, Katie, Derick, Kelly, Kory, E.J., Michael, Krystal and Nikki Rivera. Andrew was preceeded in death by paternal grandparents Asencion and Petra (Lara) Sanchez and maternal grandparents, Abraham and Rafaela (Isaguirre-Balli) Rivera, Aunts/Uncles: Isaac Rivera, Gonzalo Herrera, Frank & Rosa Alaniz and Tony & Mary Sanchez. The family wishes to thank the Vitas Innovative Hospice Care nurses for their expert around the clock care and a special thank you to friends Wayne and Joe Eslinger who were a constant source of moral and emotional support to Andrew before his death and to his family immediately following his death. The family requests that donations be made to the local Hospice. Who was Andrew? Submitted by his sister, Sylvia Fellah Andrew was loved by many, yet understood by only a few. Andrew loved knowledge and once said, “you don’t go to college to get rich, you go to college to become educated”. It was never his goal to become rich, only to become educated and he considered this a lifelong pursuit. Although Andrew never finished high school nor received a college degree, he owned and read almost every book required to receive a PhD in 20th century American Literature. Andrew could converse with any one at any level of education and was never intimidated by anyone with more knowledge than himself. He completed his GED in the army and was enrolled in the University of Texas – Pan American in Edinburg, Texas for 2 years. Andrew loved above all else, his books, all kinds of books, followed by his music, then his movies, then his mother, then this friends and family.  He was a perfectionist by definition and therefore found it hard to maintain close familial relationships, but somehow managed to be loved and admired by many. Andrew never felt superior to anyone, in fact it was his belief that all men indeed were created equal and he never judged anyone before he got to know them. If you were one of the lucky few that he picked to be his friend, that said a great deal about what Andrew thought of you. Andrew liked to be surrounded by educated (not necessarily college educated), decent and hard working people, people who he felt made a difference in the community and the world around them. Andrew respected people for who they were and not for who they boasted to be. If you were lucky enough to call Andrew “friend”, you may not have realized it but you had just passed one of the hardest tests of integrity that life can give, you had “passed muster” with Andrew and that was no easy feat. Andrew’s favorite quote by Goethe gives great insight into his perspective on life: “Alas, I have studied philosophy, / the law as well as medicine, / and to my sorrow, theology; / studied them well with ardent zeal, / yet here I am, a wretched fool, / no wiser than I was before.”   Andrew spoke almost daily to his mother, Tina Rivera Thompson.  She was his rock and constant confidante. She was there for him until the end, by his side, giving him the courage to go peacefully into the next passage of life. Andrew, son, nephew, brother, husband, father and uncle, may you finally rest in peace, you will be missed by many. I love you my brother.