Jan. 27, 1962 — July 8, 2014

Martha Jane Andrews, 52, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, formerly of Niles, Michigan, died on Tuesday, July 8, 2014, at her home unexpectedly, but of natural causes.

She was born Jan. 27, 1962, in Niles to George William and Shirley Ann (Freiberg) Andrews, Jr. She was graduated from Niles High School in 1980, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major of biology and physical education from Albion College in 1984, earned a Master of Arts Degree in physical education and exercise science from Michigan State University in 1986. She continued her education at the University of North Carolina/Chapel Hill, pursuing a Business Administration Masters, and Biochemistry Doctoral, eventually completing her doctorate in physical therapy in 2011 at the A. T. Still University of Health Sciences in Kirksville, Missouri.

Martha enlisted in the United States Navy and served for seven years as an aerospace physiologist.

She then was employed by the Sparrow Health System in Lansing, Michigan and later at Fort Knox, Kentucky. She was currently employed at the Warriors Transition Unit at Fort Carson, Colorado where she had earned several awards and a recent rating of “Highly Successful.”

She has been published in the Healthy & Fit Magazine.

Martha began playing softball in the second grade and enjoyed playing any game involving a ball, running, and, most recently, mountain biking.

Martha volunteered at the National Museum of World War II Aviation in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

She was – by the evidence of her life and the testimony of her family – a strong independent woman; kind, caring, and thoughtful.

Surviving family includes Martha’s mother, Shirley Andrews of Edwardsburg, Michigan; a brother, Mike (Linda) Andrews of Niles; a sister, Mary Bourgeois of Battle Creek, Michigan; an uncle, Ron (Mary) Freiberg of Greenbush, Michigan as well as several cousins, nieces and nephews.

Martha was preceded in death by her father, George Andrews, Jr.; grandparents, Joyce and George Andrews and Ed and Lela Freiberg; and a niece, Rikki Ball.

Services for Martha Jane Andrews will be at 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 19, 2014, at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Pastor Jeff Reese of Hope United Methodist Church of Edwardsburg, Michigan officiating, and will conclude with the Veteran’s flag presentation and “Taps” by the United States Navy Honor Guard. Entombment will be private next week in the Silverbrook Abbey in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Saturday at the funeral home one hour prior to services.

Donations in memory of Martha may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.

www.halbritterfunerals.com