He was born Oct. 21, 1943, in Granger, Texas, to Frank and Annie Mokry. He grew up on a farm with six brothers and a sister where they often evaded the truant officer, starting school in October after crops had been harvested. During his high school years, he attended local dances and it was at one of these he met and fell in love with his wife, Mary Ann.

He proposed on Christmas Eve 1962, and the two were married on June 23, 1963. They celebrated 57 years of married devotion and had four children: Robert, Lynn, Vanessa and Andrea.

The couple raised the family on big Sunday dinners, Catholic teachings and Czech music.

In 1968, he started work in the maintenance division of the Texas Department of Public Safety and retired as building program manager 43 years later. Most of his friends and co-workers knew him as “Andy.” For many years Andrew worked full-time at DPS each day and came home to work the land of multiple farms and raise cattle each night.

Andrew loved his cayenne pepper and overly spicy foods, and he loved watching CNN, a good Western or a classic cartoon. Always one to joke, Andrew kept friends of his children on their toes with a silly nickname or some nonsensical conversation and was known to sometimes answer the phone with “Kelly’s Mule Barn.”

After retirement, his favorite pastime was putting his feet up on the couch in the front room to look out the window or take a little nap.

He is preceded in death by his lovely wife; his beloved son Robert; parents; siblings Frank, Gertrude (G Ann), Bernard, Gilbert Sr., Alfred, Raymond, a sister who died at birth, and close relatives: brother-in-law Frank Krenek Sr.; and sisterin- law Lucy Mokry.

Survivors include his daughters Lynn Stefek, Vanessa Mokry and Andrea Wilbert (husband Rob); his brother Alfonse Mokry and wife Barbara; his daughter-in-law Susie Mokry; his grandchildren Cassidy Stefek Guerra (husband Sebastian), Dusty Stefek (dubbed “W.D.” by his Papa), Chelsea Stefek, Natalie Mokry, Andrew Robert Mokry, Cody Ryan, Nicholas Wilbert and Leo Wilbert; and his great-children Aaliyah Garcia, Violet Guer-ra, Lily Guerra, Oliver Guerra and Ellie Guerra; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation was Dec. 19 at Providence Funeral Home in Taylor, followed by the rosary. A funeral service was Dec. 20 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Taylor, followed by a graveside service at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Dusty Stefek, Andrew Robert Mokry, Cody Ryan, Sebastian Guerra, Shannon Juranek and Clint Mokry.

The family thanks the cardiology clinic at Baylor Scott & White and AccentCare home health for their years of caring for Andrew.

A meal was held after the graveside service at the Taylor SPJST Hall at 5025 FM 61.