Paul Andrew (Andy) Schumacher, age 83, of Dyersburg TN, passed away on Saturday,
January 25, 2025, at the Tennessee State Veterans Home in Humboldt.

Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, January 31, 2025, at Dyersburg Funeral Home and from
10:00-11:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at Holy Angels Catholic Church. Father
Patrick Hirtz will officiate a Funeral Mass at 11:30. Andy's ashes will be interred later in the
Columbarium at Holy Angels. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

Andy was born March 31, 1941 (during World War II) to Calvin Paul and Isabel (Hardesty)
Schumacher. He was their firstborn and became big brother to two younger boys, Robert
and Theodore. The boys grew up with their parents in Tulsa, Oklahoma, not far from Route
66. Calvin worked at a refinery and later joined the U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, and Isabel
was a homemaker and x-ray technician. The children were baptized in the Catholic church,
attended Mass regularly at Holy Family Cathedral, and were educated in Catholic schools.
Andy thrived during his childhood and enjoyed a host of activities and accomplishments in
his years at Holy Family High School. By the time he graduated in 1959, he had
enthusiastically participated in Honor Society, Glee Club, Science Club, school dances, and
most of all--football! During his junior year, he was "best lineman," and in his senior year,
he received his letterman jacket and was named "best all around player." His first job,
which he worked during summers, was on an ice truck, delivering 50-100 pound blocks of
the cold stuff to Tulsa residents for their "iceboxes."

Andy enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve (without his father's blessing) when he was only
seventeen years old, still a junior in high school. In fact, he missed his high school senior
picnic because he had to leave for basic training at Camp Pendleton, California. He earned
his "sharpshooter badge." His Marine Corps job was "heavy truck driver," so when he
decided to become a nurse, that didn't exactly mesh with his Marine status so he later
transferred to the Army Reserve. Andy entered the Hillcrest Medical Center School of
Nursing in Tulsa, Oklahoma; and when he graduated in 1963, he was part of the two
percent of male nurses in this country. In 1964 he completed the Army Nurse Corps Basic
course at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas; then continued on to graduate from the
Army Operating Room Nurse course at Letterman Hospital in San Francisco. He was
stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, until his 1966-67 deployment to Vietnam as an operating
room nurse with the 3rd Field Hospital. He worked in several units, including the 24th Evac
Hospital, Long Binh Vietnam, 68th Medical Group, and 104th Medical Detachment Saigon
during his deployment. Captain Schumacher's military service totaled fourteen years.

Andy graduated from the School of Anesthesia for Nurses at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester,
Minnesota in 1969. For the next four years he lived and worked in the Minneapolis area as a
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). By now his family included four little ones.
He and his family then enjoyed living and working in the picturesque town of Petosky,
Michigan, known for natural beauty, million-dollar sunsets, and Petosky stones. In 1974, a
career opportunity brought him to Dyersburg Tennessee, where he and his wife raised their
young family.

During an era of great scarcity of anesthesiologists in rural areas, CRNAs filled that void.
Andy was a partner in Professional Anesthesia Services at the hospital in Dyersburg for
over thirty years. He was a highly-respected professional among peers and coworkers and
was sought out by patients who wanted Andy to "put them to sleep" for their surgeries and
procedures. He was an active member in the Tennessee Association of Nurse Anesthetists
and the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists.

Andy was a devout member of Holy Angels Catholic Church in Dyersburg since moving to
the area in 1974. He was well-known as a community leader in several organizations: Cub
Scout Pack 88 leader, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Jaycees, Knights of Columbus, and
Young Life. He enjoyed downhill and cross country skiing, bow hunting, reading, and
music. An outdoor enthusiast with his sail boat docked at Kentucky Lake, he also loved
hiking, camping, and canoeing. His ventures took him to the Smokies, Rockies, and
Ozarks--sometimes with friends or family, sometimes with an entire Scout Troop in tow. His
motto repeated to all "take only pictures, leave only footprints". Photography and music
gave him much pleasure. You could be sure that he knew about all the latest photography
equipment and techniques, and he always surrounded himself with music--all genres, but
especially classical. He enjoyed singing and traveling with the Dyersburg Choral Society. In
his later years, you would probably find Andy in his favorite recliner, watching old westerns
and war movies.

Lisa's favorite memories of her father include those times she stood beside him during
church listening to his rich, baritone voice singing Christmas songs and Church hymns. She
also enjoyed the canoe trips down the Spring and Buffalo Rivers with her dad and the Boy
Scouts. Deby will remember talks with her dad while walking the Pioneer Subdivision
neighborhood, sailing and road-tripping, and the preparatory bike riding they did for her
ride from Los Angeles to San Francisco with the Girl Scouts. Paul enjoyed hikes with the
Boy Scouts often led by his father. Jimmy loved building rockets with his dad and launching
them from nearby fields.

Andy's life was filled with adventures that led to great stories, which he loved to share with his family and friends. He was always interested in learning more about new technologies and ideas and loved showing off the new gadgets he found. He had a big laugh that others had to join in with, and with his white beard, he made the perfect Santa or Papa Smurf. He made sure that Martha, his children, their spouses, and his grandchildren knew that he loved them and he will be sorely missed by his family and friends.

Andy is survived by his wife Martha Hall Schumacher of Dyersburg TN; four children: Debra
Dandan of Southaven MS, Paul (Lisa) Schumacher, of Potomac MD, James (Jennifer)
Schumacher of Golden CO, and Lisa (Forrest) Stover of Prescott AZ; two step-children:
Chuck (Lori Ann) of Dyersburg TN and Ricky Hall of Germantown TN. Andy's twelve
grandchildren include Emilie (Dawson) Pitts of Southaven MS; Joseph Dandan of
Southaven MS; Andrew (Alexis) Schumacher of Ft Novosel AL; Bryce Schumacher of New
York NY; Vivienne and Dalia of Potomac MD; Colton Ford of Dyersburg TN, Brooke (Joey)
Yearwood of Alamo TN; Randy (Leah) Hall of Ardmore TN; and Jacob, Hope, and Sam Hall,
all of Germantown TN . He was "Paw Andy" to his great grandchildren Ellie Gilliland, Elsie
Yearwood, and Lane Hall.

He is pre-deceased by his parents, brothers, Robert and Theodore Schumacher; Kay Fenton Schumacher, and Katherine Ford Schumacher.

In Andy's own words: "My philosophy of life is...enjoy."

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of Andy's favorite charitable
organizations: Holy Angels Catholic Church, Cumberland Presbyterian Church of
Dyersburg, Dyer County Community Cancer Fund, Wounded Warrior Project, American Red
Cross Mid-South Chapter, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Paws to Care, Veterans
Home Humboldt, or your favorite charity.

Dyersburg Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mr. Andy Schumacher. Online condolences can be made to the family at dyersburgfuneralhome.net