Obituary of Doris Pogue Andrews

Doris Pogue Andrews fell asleep in death on January 4, 2018 in her home in Tucson, Arizona. Doris was born on August 16, 1931 in Shreveport, Louisiana, the daughter of Johnny Lorenzo Pogue, Sr. and Cordelia Drayden Pogue. After their divorce, she was raised as an only child by her mother. Doris earned a B.A. degree in English from Bishop College in Marshall, Texas at a time when few Black girls were able to go to college. Her mother had done the same. Doris went on to graduate from Phillips Hospital School of Administration in St. Louis, Missouri as a Registered Health Information Administrator. As a child she was nicknamed "Doll" because of her dimples. She was a beautiful, kind, elegant, private, quick-witted and generous woman. She married just out of college and moved to St. Louis, Missouri with her new husband, Owen Ruffin, where they had two children, in quick succession, then divorced. She then moved to New Orleans, Louisiana with her two children and then to Ogden, Utah where she supported her young family (which by this time included her mother) working as a Medical Record Librarian. She headed up the Health Information department at Hill Air Force Base Hospital, Ogden Utah and later at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Hospital, Tucson, Arizona. She married Ira Andrews in 1988 in Tucson. They were like newlyweds for at least the first 10 years of their 25 year marriage. From an early age, Doris always had a strong belief and trust in God. She regularly read and enjoyed studying the Bible. She raised her children to also love God and to appreciate spiritual things. During the last several years of her life she and Ira were members of New Testament Baptist Church in Tucson. She and Ira also shared a passion for all things sports, especially basketball. Both of them could discuss the intricacies of the basketball teams and players and histories with the most knowledgeable of persons. She was a loyal friend and viewed by many as a good listener. To her daughter, sister, and adopted "daughters" she often played the role of mentor, dispensing spiritual and encouraging words. She was an avid reader and stayed informed on world events. She also had a great appreciation of music. She played classical music in the office and at one time had amassed a significant collection of classic albums ranging from Sam Cook, to Fats Domino to Willie Nelson. Doris was preceded in death by her mother and father, her son Anthony (Tony) Keith Ruffin, and her husband, Ira Lee Andrews. She is survived by her daughter, Gail Ruffin-Cruz Jones (Elmer), grandson, Emilio Louis Cruz IV, step son Reginald Allen Andrews, step daughters Sharyn Andrews, Natalie Jennine Andrews and Lori Lynn Andrews, her step grand-children Mikayla Marie Dubey and Mikal Dubey and by her half brothers and sisters Pittre Pogue Walker, Johnny Lorenzo Pogue Jr. , Rotina Pogue McMullen ( Micheal), Curtis Pogue (Yvette), 14 nieces and nephews and 7 great nieces and nephews. Doris will be sorely missed by her loving daughter, family members and friends. We will wait eagerly until the time of the resurrection in the last day as promised in God's word.