Clayton Edward Andrews Jr.

CORNVILLE – Clayton Edward Andrews Jr., former Bingham business owner, Easy Ed and the Drifters band leader, friend, husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family. He was 87.

Clayton, Ed or “Easy Ed” to some, was born July 7, 1936, in Bingham, to Clayton “Spike” and Alice Andrews. He grew up playing sports and working in his family’s business, WE & EE Andrews, a sawmill, gristmill and small hardware business (Andrews Hardware).

Ed was a lifelong sports enthusiast. He played baseball and basketball at Bingham high school where he lettered all four years and was captain for both teams. After graduating high school in 1954, he joined the Air Force during the Korean War and was stationed in the Brooks Range in Alaska and Dow Field in Maine. While stationed at Dow Field, he played baseball on the Air Force team, traveling up and down the East Coast. He was an avid Yankee fan which wasn’t particularly popular in Red Sox dominated Maine. Opening hours at Andrews Hardware during baseball season were typically spent trash talking the previous night’s games with his brother Ken “Bun” and local friends. He was also a small aircraft pilot, and on several occasions flew his plane to Boston with family and friends to root against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. While wintering in Florida, he participated in a Detroit Tiger fantasy baseball camp where he became friends with many of the former stars and annually thereafter participated as a coach.

After leaving the Air Force in 1958 he married Jane A Damon of Madison, and moved to Reno, Nevada, where he dealt craps, blackjack and other tables games at the Nevada Club and ultimately became a pit boss. When his father became ill in early 1961, he returned to Bingham to help with the family business. Within a few years, Ed became owner and purchased the old Colby movie theatre in Bingham to expand the business to include a lumber yard and warehouse. He ran a successful business for many years with his wife Jane who passed away in 1996.

In 1998 Ed married Judith M. Giggey and moved to Cornville. They split their time between Cornville and Haines City, Florida, where they spent many winters playing golf and enjoying the warmer weather.

Ed’s passion in life was playing music and collecting vintage guitars. He learned to play guitar while in the Air Force and started his first band after returning to Bingham from Reno. Ed and his bands played almost every weekend in the surrounding area, and he had a local weekly radio show for several years. He also appeared on TV several times with musicians such as Dick Curless, Curly O’Brien, and others. One of his many treasured memories was bringing Grand Ole Opry stars Jim and Jess and the Virginia boys to Bingham to perform and vacation at his camp on Kingsbury Pond. Ed loved Nashville and visited many times. Ed’s knowledge for guitars and music propelled Andrews Hardware to became one of the top music stores in New England and New York for vintage and new stringed instruments.

Ed was a long time member of the Masonic Lodge #199, Kora Shriners, Eastern Star, Bingham Lions Club, Elks Club, Bingham Fire Dept, American Legion Post #99 and a former Selectman for the town of Bingham.

Ed was predeceased by his first wife, Jane and daughter, Tamela “Tammie”. He is survived by his wife Judith and his four sons; William “Bill”, Clayton “Chip” and his wife Kate, James “Jamie” and his wife Cindy, Travis and his wife Lynn; Judith’s children Laurie and Randy; grandchildren Cory, Clayton “Clay”, John, Brandon, Ashley, William “Will”, Jaynna, and several nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours will be held at Giberson’s Funeral home in Bingham on Wednesday November 29, from 4-7 p.m. A graveside funeral service will be held in Bingham next July.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Giberson Funeral Home and Cremation Services. To leave a condolence for the family and to view the online obituary, please visit http://www.gibersonfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Maine Special Olympics online at: https://www.somaine.org/, or by mail to: Special Olympics Maine, 125 John Roberts Road, Suite 5,

South Portland, ME,

USA, 04106