WEST PARIS — Lenwood ‘Pete’ Andrews, born Aug. 10, 1915, in South Woodstock to Harlan and Jessie Jackson Andrews, died Sunday, Oct. 2, at the Ledgeview Living Center. A man of many hats, Pete wore each with dignity, respect, thoughtfulness and responsibility.

He was the fifth generation to carry on the business, operating the I. W. Andrews and Son Funeral Homes, casket manufacturing business and ambulance service. As a funeral director, he provided comfort and understanding to those families which lost a loved one. At age 14, he co-founded a musical group named the Parisians, in which he played bass and piano. The Parisians entertained dancers and toe twitching fans for many years.

Pete was educated at South Woodstock Elementary School, West Paris High School, Class of 1933, Auburn Maine School of Commerce and McAllister School of Embalming in New York City, Class of 1937. As a Daddy, a Gramps, a friend, a Red Sox fan, a deer hunter, a fisherman and a story teller, Pete stayed active, enjoying his family, friends and hobbies.

Each fall, Pete delighted in the camaraderie of old friends at Hunter’s Camp in Greenwood. Proud of his roots in Andrews Hollow, Pete often hosted school groups and historical organizations to share stories of his experiences as a young worker in the water powered mill. As noted recently in an article about the local phone company, Pete’s grandfather, Alva Andrews, was instrumental in providing phone service to South Woodstock. For many years, Pete served as a director of the phone company. In 1981, when Pete sold the business, he donated artifacts from the mill to the Maine State Museum in Augusta.

He was honored locally with the Community Service Award and received the Franklin Grange Community Citizenship Award. He was a member of the Jefferson Lodge AF & AM and Jefferson Chapter OES of Bryant Pond. Most recently, as the oldest citizen of West Paris, Pete felt honored to receive the Boston Post Cane.

Hazel Woods Andrews, Pete’s wife of 43 years, died in 1982. His brother, Stanley died in 2002. Along with cousins, nieces and nephews, surviving Pete are his four children, Suzanne Hill of Spring Hill, Fla., Hilda and her husband, Ray Nafarrate, of San Marcos, Calif., Jackson and his wife, Linda Andrews, of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Rebecca Waters of Portland. He leaves six grandchildren and eight great- grandchildren.