Obituary of Andrea Lee Botkins

Andrea Lee Botkins, age 50, of Huntsville, MO made her final journey home to the Lord in Heaven on October 4, 2018 at her home in Huntsville, MO. Andrea was born on March 15, 1968 in Quincy, IL to Jim Parrish and Linda (Sharp) O’Leary. She graduated from Putnam County High school where she was active in FBLA, Pep Club, DECA, band, and the yearbook staff. Andrea held several school records in track, including the 400-meter dash, 800-meter dash, and the 1600-meter run. Andrea also helped set records in the 1600- and 3200-meter relays. She held the long jump record with a jump of 16′ 2 3/4″. Andrea also competed in basketball and softball receiving numerous all-conference, all-district, and all-state certificates of recognition. She was also the 1985 Putnam County Fair Queen. She attended Moberly Area Junior College from 1986 to 1988 Majoring in Art. She was a starting team member of the Lady Greyhounds basketball team that placed 3rd in 1987 and 5th in 1988 in the National Tournament Finals. Andrea worked at Food Barn through college in Moberly and then became a Deli Manager for Food Barn at the Columbia location. She then took a position as Account Executive at Heifner Communications followed by a similar position for KT Communications. Andrea was a member of First Baptist Church of Huntsville where she enjoyed helping with Team Kids, served on the Nominating and the House Committees and was a VBS leader. One of her most treasured family vacations was a Mission trip to South Dakota with her husband and two sons. She loved her Church family. Andrea was a member of the M.R.S (Marriage, Relaxation and Service) Sorority and loved fellowship with her sorority sisters. She enjoyed being involved in the community service projects of M.R.S, one of her favorites being the sorority Craft Auction, which she helped coordinate from time to time. She married Chris Botkins on September 4th, 1993 in Moberly MO at Lions Beuth Park. Andrea loved the outdoors. She enjoyed bicycling, hiking, traveling, and spending time at the river and lakes with her family. Andrea was an amazing cook and enjoyed coming up with new dishes for her family to try. She loved her husband and two sons with all of her heart and enjoyed being with them through the years, supporting them in sports, horse showing, cattle showing, and archery competitions. She loved her granddaughter, Brylee and had a joyful smile on her face every opportunity she had to spend time with her. Her family and friends will always remember her as being a strong confident Christian woman with a love for the Lord. She was an amazing soul with overwhelming love for her family and her friends. She is preceded in death by her brothers, Phillip J. Parrish and John Brian Parrish; grandmother, Betty Jo Parrish; maternal great grandmother, Maureen Sharp and her uncle, John Sharp. Andrea is survived by her husband, Chris Botkins; her parents, Jim (Linda) Parrish and Linda O’Leary; her sons, Ely (Calin Roth) Botkins and Alec Botkins; granddaughter, Brylee Botkins; step brother, Randy (Angie) Ballanger; step sister, Karrie Ballanger; aunt, Marsha (Paul) Burton; uncle, Tom (Carol) Parrish; in-laws, Steve (Pam) Botkins, Keith (Mary Catherine) Botkins and Gerald (Cheryl) Botkins; uncle, Doug (Mona) Botkins; aunt, Linda (Ray) Penderson; uncles, Steve Murphy and James O’Neal; cousins, Corey Botkins, Devin Botkins, Craig (Ashley) Nolke, Chad (Jamie) Nolke, Cody Nolke, Lisa (Terry) Vasicek, Matt Penderson, Jessie Murhpy, Megan O’Neal, Christopher O’Neal and Joshua O’Neal; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and many close friends. Andrea’s wishes were that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the Andrea Botkins Living Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Living Memorial Scholarship, P.O. Box 100, Huntsville, MO 65259. http://users.cvalley.net/lmscholarship.