Andrew David Kilcrease, 30, passed away June 9, 2014 at 5:30 PM at the Scott White Hospital in Temple, TX after an infection which resulted in septic shock. He was born June 24, 1983 to Susan Shine Kilcrease and Dennis Kilcrease in Beaumont, TX. “Andy” spent his early years in Silsbee. Andy was a 9th generation descendent of some of the earliest Anglo pioneers in SE Texas, dating back to the 1830’s.
In 1992 at the age of 9, Andy’s family moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado. While in Colorado Andy’s interests turned to hiking, mountain climbing, camping, jeeping with the family, and technology. His father, a Network Engineer, began to teach Andy computer technology, and by age 12 he built his own computer. His talent and love for technology would follow him through his life. About the same time, he began his life-long love of aquatics and fish. Under the tutorage of a mentor, Andy became one of the youngest persons to become certified in Ichthyology, which is the study and care of fish. As a teenager, he worked in large aquariums at the Colorado Springs Zoo, and at office and medical buildings in Colorado Springs. While in Colorado, Andy contracted Lyme disease which began a 15 year battle with his health which ultimately resulted in his death.
Andy was Senior Class President when he graduated from the CIVA Charter School in Colorado Springs in 2002, a school that specialized in the sciences and the arts. He moved back to SE Texas with his family following his graduation. He attended Lamar University, where he majored in Ichthyology with dreams of becoming a Marine Biologist. While at Lamar, he wrote and presented a paper he wrote on the Cyprinodon Variegatus (Pupfish Minnow). The topic explored his research that determined that they could communicate through specific different sounds that they produced. He presented his paper at Baylor University as a representative of Lamar University.
Andy additionally received certification through Texas A&M as a Life Flight Critical Care Paramedic out of the Houston Medical Center, where among other recues, he participated in the air rescues from the Superdome following Hurricane Katrina. Andy was instrumental in the saving of many lives in his 5 years in Critical Care Medicine.
In 2007 Andy married Lesia Wilson, and together they had a beautiful daughter, AlexAndrea, 7. Andy enjoyed a happy and full family life and he was a loving father and husband. Their family life, though tragically brief, was very special, and together they enjoyed hiking and the outdoors, and a special and common love of literature and movies, especially H.R, Tolkein’s “The Hobbit”. From his wife:
“He has many roles in his life, son, brother, friend, husband, father. He has been a pretty pretty princess, a mad hatter, genius scientist, a medic, an exhibitionist, a dare devil, a healer, trouble maker, stubborn as a long horn, a jokester, a puzzle-solver, riddle-answerer.”
In 2009 Andy joined the London Broadcasting staff as a Master Controller for KBMT Channel 12 in Beaumont, TX. He was promoted by London Broadcasting to IT Broadcast Engineer at KCEN in Temple, TX in 2013, which prompted a family move to Belton, TX. In this position, which he loved, Andy was responsible for three TV Stations in Killeen, Temple, and College Station.
Andy leaves a wife, Lesia Wilson Kilcrease; a daughter, AlexAndrea Kilcrease; his parents, Susan Shine Kilcrease and Dennis Kilcrease; a brother, Christopher Kilcrease and his wife, Lisa Roethlisberger Kilcrease; nephews, Joshua and David Kilcrease; aunts, Anna Beth Shine Jumper, Betty Shine, Dawana McDougal, and Debra Nance; uncle, Darrell Kilcrease; and scores of cousins, friends and relatives.
A gathering of Andy’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Friday, June 13, 2014, at Broussard’s, 490 Cemetery Road, Silsbee. His funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, June 14, 2014, at First United Methodist Church, 670 N. 5th Street, Silsbee, with interment to follow at Resthaven Cemetery, Silsbee.
