Christine "Christy" Marie Andrews
Apr 15, 1951 -
Dec 28, 2025
Christine "Christy" Marie Andrews, age 74, of Palmer, Alaska, passed away on Dec. 28, 2025. Born in Oak Park, Ill., to Marion and William Laier, Ms. Andrews attended Woodstock High School, where she met Mike Andrews. They married in 1974 and moved to Fairbanks, Alaska, in 1975, where they lived for 16 years. While raising her family of young children, Christy earned a degree in education from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church and served as a teacher's aide at Pearl Creek Elementary School.
In 1994, the family moved to Eagle River, Alaska, and she taught kindergarten and first grade at Birchwood ABC Elementary School until her retirement in 2015. Christy was recognized for her dedication to education, faith-based service and community involvement. She supported girls and women through mentorship, chaplaincy at Hiland Mountain Correctional Center. She and her husband Mike were members of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Chugiak, where she taught Sunday school, assisted with Vacation Bible School and served on the altar guild. Christy participated in Bible Study Fellowship for many years. She was a founding member of PEO Chapter S in the Mat-Su Valley, a non-profit dedicated to giving educational scholarships to girls and women.
Christy loved the outdoors and enjoyed hiking, backpacking, fishing, kayaking, berry picking and gold dredging on the 40 Mile River with her sister Carol and brother-in-law Vern Thurneau. She traveled extensively across the United States and internationally to destinations such as China, the Caribbean, Hawaii, England, Scottland, Ireland and Israel.
She is survived by her husband, Mike; children, Emily (Brian Ross), Nelle, Will (Cynthia Lambert) and Daniel (Olga Kofman); sister, Carol Thurneau; grandchildren, Ruby and Grayson Ross; and nieces and nephews and their families.
The family extends sincere appreciation to Christy's medical team, caregivers and hospice nurses for their professional care. A memorial service will be held at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 18444 Old Glenn Highway in Chugiak, at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. Contributions in Christy's memory may be made to PEO Chapter S, 14068 E River Bend Circle, Palmer, AK 99645, in lieu of flowers.
