Andrea Claire Middleton-Lee

Andrea Middleton-Lee 41, of Belmond, passed away unexpectedly on March 21, 2021 at her home.

Funeral services for Andrea will be held on Saturday, March 27, 2021 at 11:00 AM at Ewing Funeral Home, 111 Luick’s Lane South in Belmond with Pastor Leila Blackburn officiating. 

Visitation will be held two hours prior to services at the funeral home on Saturday morning, beginning at 9:00 AM.

Andrea’s family has requested that those in attendance wear a mask.

Andrea Claire Middleton, the daughter of Marc and Nancy Middleton was born on January 16, 1980 in Belmond, Iowa. Andrea was the second daughter of Marc and Nancy Middleton and “the one who got the blonde hair and blue eyes." Andrea grew up in Belmond and graduated from Belmond-Klemme High School in 1998. During high school she participated in softball, volleyball and the marching band as a flag girl.

After graduation Andrea worked at one of the local flower shops as a floral designer. Andrea then moved to South Carolina where she helped raise two of her favorite boys, Daniel and Ricky Lee. Andrea also worked at a flower shop while in South Carolina. She appreciated the beauty of the flowers, loved to be creative and was an expert in making bows.

In November of 2001 Kaytlynn Nancy made her debut appearance after holding out for many, many hours. It might have even been days, she’s a little stubborn. Family came to visit as often as they could but when Kaytlynn was still pretty little, about three years old, they moved back to Belmond. Andrea wanted to raise her little girl closer to family. It didn’t take long after Andrea moved back for her to create a nice, simple life for her and her daughter. Playing at the park, learning to ride tricycles and bicycles, visiting Grandpa and Grandma, visiting Aunts, Uncles and Cousins and spending as much time with other family as they could. Kaytlynn recalls the countless hours when she was little that her and her Mom would play “make believe”. They were mail carriers, cashiers, waitresses, etc… Kaytlynn will forever remember those times as well as the little game they had just between the two of them. As Kaytlynn became more involved in things Andrea would attend her activities with a smile from ear to ear. She might have been the proudest Mom in the room. Andrea also loved being around two more of “her boys” during this time Jacob and Ethan Beasley. As Kaytlynn became older the conversations they had would become longer and more important. “Mom would just listen, she was the best listener,” Kaytlynn said. “We also laughed. She was so fun to laugh with. We laughed forever about the silliest little things.” Kaytlynn graduated high school last summer and started college in the fall which couldn’t have made Andrea any prouder.

In March of 2013 Andrea brought a second daughter into this world, Arabella Ann. Coincidentally enough, she is also the one with blonde hair and blue eyes. Andrea and Arabella had to be separated for a short time after she was born but while Andrea was recovering Grandma, Aunt Kiki and Sissy were by Bella’s side. When they were reunited it was as if those days hadn’t passed. From that point on we knew Bella was going to be a “Mama’s girl”. Bella was glued to her Mom’s hip. Bella would visit Grandma and Grandpa or other family and when she was ready to go home she would let them know she just wanted to go home to see her Mom. Andrea and Bella enjoyed spending time together learning how to read and write, (which is evident with all the little notes Bella left her Mom around the house) learning how to ride her new bike she got for Christmas and watching YouTube so they could learn how to make fun things together. Movie nights were important to both girls. They would go to the store and stock up on snacks and watch movies together. Both girls will forever miss their time together.

Andrea had a love for animals. Andrea had her “fur babies” Remi, Bear and Tommy. Andrea always enjoyed having animals or being around animals. They were great companions for her.

Andrea’s greatest joy was her family and friends. When she was younger her friends would come over to “play store” on her amazing cash register or eat cheeto and peanut butter sandwiches and drink Dr. Pepper. In more recent years she would spend quiet nights with her friend Tracy and her son Bradon watching movies. She met Tracy at the elementary school in the pick up line. Andrea started up a conversation and that was all it took for them to become the best of friends.

Andrea had a gift. A way to make people feel comfortable. A big, kind, caring heart. A way to strike up a conversation with anybody that was willing. A sparkle in her eyes and a big, bright smile.

Family is something that Andrea always talked about. She lived for her family. She would love and do whatever was in her power to do for her family, always.

Andrea is survived by her two daughters Kaytlynn Nancy Lee and Arabella Ann Thompson of Belmond, Iowa; her mother Nancy Middleton of Belmond, Iowa; her sister Nicole McMurray of Belmond, Iowa and her partner Pat McCormick of Clarion; her nieces and nephews Christian McMurray and girlfriend Kacie of Ames, Iowa; Addison McMurray, Hutchison McMurray and Nevi McMurray all of Belmond, Iowa; aunts and uncles Charles and Jean Peil of Belmond, Iowa; Patti Dull of Tucson, Arizona; Ted Smith of Mountain Home, Arkansas; Tom Middleton of Lakewood, Colorado; Ron and Cheryl Middleton of Belmond, Iowa; and Rosemary Middleton of Belmond, Iowa; cousins Steve and Julie Peil and family of Belmond, Iowa, Teri Julian and family of Hoquiam, Washington, Stacy Dodson and family of Portland, Oregon, Richard and Tiffany Middleton and family of Arvada, Colorado, Lee and Vicki Wilkerson of Golden, Colorado; “Her boys” Ricky and Daniel Lee and Jacob and Ethan Beasley.

Andrea is preceded in death by her father Marc Middleton, her grandparents Donald and Lila Smith and Richard and Alberta Middleton, her uncle Tom Dull, cousin Alec Jullian as well as several other cherished friends and family members.