Andrea Kathleen Walsh

Artist Andrea Walsh, 77, passed away at her La Junta home on January 5, 2021, following a year-long battle with cancer.

She was born, Andrea Kathleen Carmichael in Boston, MA on May 26, 1943, she lived her early childhood in Brookline, MA, near JFK’s childhood home. When she was a young teen her family moved to Newton Center, MA, where she attended Newton schools including Newton High School and Newton College where she met Timothy F. Walsh. They were married June 13, 1964.

Together they had three children: Tiffany Francis (John) Martson, Aaron Ernest (Barbara) Walsh, and Nicole Justine (Beau) Dillon. From them she gained 15 grandchildren and five great- grandchildren, one of whom is soon to be born.

Andrea loved the city of Boston, which was often a theme of her later art. She visited Boston on the T from Newton frequently as a girl, alone or with her brother Ernie. She worked at Brigham's Ice Cream shop then, a job she loved, but had to be cautioned repeatedly by the boss not to make the ice cream cones so big.

She loved children and they loved her. They took immediately to her, perhaps seeing themselves in her. With her husband Timothy she fostered many children, ranging from infants to teenagers. She also cared for children at her church through Sunday school, Children’s church, and special programs. Through fostering and the church she had a positive impact on the lives of numerous young children and teenagers.

Andrea had an eye for beauty, which she captured in prize-winning photography and prize-winning oil and watercolor paintings. Her photo of an old cowboy was published in “Best of Photography Annual 1998.”

She loved the prairie but she also loved the mountains. She loved traveling, especially the trips she took with her son to Japan and Paris.

She spoke often about a recent trip with Timothy and Aaron and his family to Ireland and Scotland. A MacDonald clan descendant, she was eager to visit the Scottish Highlands and the Scottish town, Glencoe, in which her ancestors had warred against an unjust King.
An accomplished actress she loved the theater and when she wasn't on stage she might be found backstage as a makeup artist for many plays. Before marriage she did makeup for Timothy for his parts in “Look Homeward Angel,” and “JB.”

She focused entirely and exclusively on whatever she was doing; while she was painting she wasn't doing photography and while she was doing photography she wasn't doing drama.
She had a life-long interest in health, health foods and supplements she worked for years at Campbell’s Health Food Store in La Junta, CO, which deepened her knowledge of nutrition and health.

With her wonderful sense of humor and irony she was often the life of any gathering. A gifted storyteller, she could make an ordinary event amusing and memorable and was a master of the short form, making a long story short and funny.

Andrea was preceded in death by her mother, Kathleen, and father, Albert Carmichael, and several cousins with whom she was close. Her brother Ernest and his wife live in Japan; her sister Jacqueline lives on Cape Cod.

Andrea Kathleen Carmichael Walsh, a beautiful young woman made more beautiful by age and experience, was much loved by family and friends.

Arrangements are pending for a private celebration of her life in the spring.

In lieu of flowers please send a memory of Andrea for inclusion in her memory book; send by text to (720) 722-0108 or by email to walshag@bc.edu

Online condolences may be made at www.PeacockFH.com. Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home and Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.