Henry David “Duff” Andrews V, D.D.S., of Orcas Island, WA. age 82, passed away peacefully after suffering a stroke, on Sunday, December 25, 2022, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Boise, Idaho. By his side was his beloved wife of 54 years, Marilyn McTavish Andrews.
Born in Portland, OR., in 1940, son of late Henry “Dillo” and late Ann Marie Andrews.
Children include Anne Marie Stark, 55, Vancouver, WA., Stacey McCarty, 53, Nashville, TN., and Henry David Andrews VI, (Lisa), 51, Boise, ID.
Grandchildren include Zak Ellsworth, 24; Chase McCarty, 22; Max Ellsworth, 22; Luke Ellsworth, 21; Brooke McCarty, 20; Quinn McCarty, 19; Marilyn Jane McCarty, 18; Henry Davis Andrews VII, 14; and Fisher Andrews, 14.
He is survived by sister Sally Gatchet (Dan), of Quilcene, WA., and predeceased by sister Marilyn Jean Andrews Lattin and first wife Coralee “Corky” Andrew.
Born in Portland, Oregon, Duff’s family moved to Seattle in 1950 where he spent his youth delivering newspapers, attending Queen Anne High School and most memorably, running the elevators at the Space Needle during the World’s Fair. A proud big brother, wearing his “space uniform”, he would visit his sister Sally who was selling hot dogs at the Food Circus.
After (barely) graduating from Queen Anne High School, Duff enlisted in the Navy in 1958 where he worked in dental prosthetics. In 1961 he attended Everett JC and then took a job at University of Washington where he worked in a cancer research lab. Duff ultimately forged a path into Dental School at The University of Washington where he graduated top of his class in 1973.
Upon Duff graduating from dental school, he was drawn to the San Juan Islands after visiting Marilyn’s family cabin, the “Shaque” on San Juan. Prior to settling in the islands, Duff and Marilyn took their young children to Europe to camp for as long as the weather permitted and then he took a dental job in Zurich until he accepted an opportunity to take over a dental practice on Orcas Island. Being his social, energetic self, he quickly immersed himself into the community by inviting islanders to dinner and the rest is history. That was “Dr. Perfect”: generous, welcoming, witty, charming, and fun.
Duff practiced dentistry at his Whalestooth Clinic on Orcas Island from 1975 to 1997; a perfect profession for someone whose patients’ undivided attention allowed for long-winded entertaining stories and jokes.
A philanthropist in his local community, he had great pride in being Commissioner of the Orcas Island Fire Department, being instrumental in the creation of the Orcas Center, and holding the longest-standing membership in the Lions Club.
Duff loved a good potluck, Husky football games, softball tournaments, boating and crabbing with his family in the San Juans and Desolation Sound, family ski trips, his baby blue Cadillac, permed hair under a bandana riding on his Harley with his love, bridge, pinochle, cribbage, backgammon and almost any card game, Sunday services at the Episcopal Church in Eastsound, serving hot dogs (forever and ever) at the Library Fair, a good book or a thousand of them. He was one-of-a-kind, and he will be dearly missed by all who had the good fortune to cross paths with him.
