Andrew Crenan Hudson's Obituary
Andrew Crenan Hudson, beloved husband and father, departed this world on January 18, 2026. He was preceded in death by his faithful spouse of 64 years, Kathryn Saculla Hudson. He is survived by their seven children: Brigid (Timothy Brunette); Melissa (Earle Weeks); Mark (Margaret Cassidy); William (Roxanne Fisher, deceased); Sarah; Sarita (Harley Erdman); and Mary (Christopher Kelley); fifteen grandchildren: Nicholas (Celina Mendoza) and Matthew Brunette; Rachel (Christopher Kabana) and Kathryn Weeks (Michael Zawisza); Justin and Molly Hudson; Vance and Anna Hudson (Alex Zhang); Andrew (Renee Lipari), Joseph (Melanie Blower), and Alessandra Scholle; Jonah and Cara Hudson-Erdman; Jude and Cameron Kelley; and seven great-grandchildren, Ena and Miriam Brunette, Felicity Weeks Kabana, Lydia and Nathaniel Scholle, and Siena and Georgiana Scholle.
Andy was born in Hearne, Texas, on January 16, 1933, the eighth child of Ellen Crenan and Oliver Greer Hudson, along with brothers William and Oliver, Jr., and sisters, Mary Ellen Foster, Nancy Ferguson, Anita Hollis, Theresa Ruth Greenman and Margaret Mae Isenberger.
At age 4, his family moved 500 miles away to the wild west of Alpine, Texas, where he grew up and was educated. In the midst of a very devout Catholic family of women, his five sisters and mother, and being the youngest of all his siblings, he had more good rearing than most young boys could stand. But it all paid off-- molding him into the gentleman and scholar he became. No doubt accompanying his mom to daily Mass gave him the strength of a great faith in Christ that he carried to his grave.
At Alpine High he played every type of sport offered. He attended Texas A&M University in College Station for the next 6 years. With family ties in farming in Milam County, he was influenced to earn both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the study of Agricultural Economics. In between that study in 1954, he met and married the love of his life in Bryan, Texas, and their family grew to five girls and two boys. Once again, he was surrounded by a household of women.
His work history includes a 3-year period on the staff at Auburn University, AL, before moving to Baton Rouge, LA, where he earned a Ph.D. at Louisiana State University. He was then hired as an economist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Little Rock, AR, where he worked for the Economic Research Service and the Soil Conservation Service. He retired in 1999 after 31 years of service.
In Little Rock, he served the Cathedral of St. Andrew as lector, extraordinary minister, finance chairman and confidant of many holy priests who sought his calm and wise counsel. He was further called to serve the Diocese of Little Rock, as a Chair of the Board of Christopher Homes and Good Shepherd Ecumenical Retirement Center. In 2004 on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary, Andrew and Kathy received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice at St Andrews. At St Anne’s in Memphis, Andy and Kathy continued their service and were honored with the Good and Faithful Servant Award.
During the last years of his life, Andrew enjoyed crossword puzzles, daily scrabble games, and weekly zooms with family, and the loving help of his dedicated friend and caregiver, Ann Bailey.
Andy was completely devoted to Kathy, with whom he shared years of marriage until her death in 2019. It seems fitting that he stuck around here for his 93rd birthday and then joined Kathy on her birthday.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested for the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Anne Catholic Church, 706 S. Highland St., Memphis, TN 38111. Please direct gifts to the SVDP fund. https://abundant.co/stannehighland/give
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