Mr. Andrew Horner's Obituary
Andrew J. Horner left this earth for his true Home on January 21, 2023. Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1924, Andy, the youngest of 13 children, emigrated with his mother Sarah and two siblings to Ontario, Canada in 1930. His childhood was marked by struggle and scarcity and hard work (selling vegetables door to door, delivering newspapers, washing bottles at the dairy). His character was influenced by his mother’s example of singing while she scrubbed floors, of reading her Bible and praying, of giving what little she had to help others. God used the hardships for good and throughout Andy’s long life, his happy humility, his Irish wit and gregariousness endeared him to everyone he met.
In 1943 Andy joined the Royal Canadian Navy where he was a signalman on an escort ship in the dangerous North Sea. God answered his mother’s prayers for his safety and when the war was over, he married his high school sweetheart Joan Taylor. In 1950, following Joan’s dream, they moved to Dallas, Texas and became a part of the family of First Baptist Church for the rest of their lives.
Andy studied at night school for 11 years, earning his B.A. in Business from SMU in 1966. His career path included management positions in S.C. Johnson, Xerox Corporation, and in the direct sales company Home Interiors and Gifts, Inc. In 1985, when he was of the age for an early retirement, God led him and Joan to start a new direct sales company called Premier Designs. Andy was the beloved CSO (Chief Servant Officer), even after he became legally blind in 2003. They chose the product, jewelry, and wrote the founding principal -- to Honor God and Serve Others – and stated the purpose: to enrich every life we touch. Premier Designs grew to be a multi-million dollar company, and most of the profits were given to support missionaries and Bible-teaching institutions, schools, camps, hospitals, orphanages, etc, all around the world. Both he and Joan willingly poured out their lives serving the Lord through their company.
As a boy growing up without a father’s love, Andy dreamed of having a big family and God did just that. He was preceded to heaven by his wife of 65 years, Joan Taylor Horner (d. 2010) and is survived by his second wife, Sarah Hemingway Horner; his five children Andrea Horner, Sarah (Jake) Wetzel, Tim (Peggy) Horner, Mary (Jack) Collins, and Tommy (Donna) Horner; 14 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren. The family express extra-special gratitude for James Johnson and Pauline Nguessan for their years of loving service.
“From the view of a long and full life I want you to know you can be happy and content near the end,” Andy wrote in his book By Design. His secret to contentment was no secret. Andy trusted in Jesus as his Savior and he esteemed and lived by God’s Word. One of his favorite verses was “No man has seen, heard, or even imagined what wonderful things God has ready for those who love the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 Now Andy is with the Lord, seeing and hearing all those wonderful things.
In lieu of flowers, you may honor Andy by donating to the First Baptist Church Dallas, 1707 San Jacinto, Dallas, Texas 75201
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