Andrew Max Houser passed away Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Brooklyn, N.Y. He was born May 23, 1980, to Nancy and Gary Houser in Pomeroy, Wash., joining his older brother, Greg Houser.
Growing up in Pomeroy, Drew met many friends who he would stay in touch with throughout his life. In high school, he worked at the Umatilla National Forest Service, Pioneer Eatery and Dye Seed Ranch, where he learned many valuable skills.
When younger, Drew enjoyed music. He loved to sing along to songs on the radio with his Uncle Jerry when visiting Kentucky and excelled at playing the saxophone in band. In high school, he was also a standout baseball player who hit many home runs while playing catcher.
Drew attended the University of Oregon and, then, transferred to the University of Washington, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in anthropology, studying how people lived and interacted in ancient civilizations. During high school and his years in Seattle, Drew played the guitar in musical bands and performed live shows in both communities.
In his twenties, Drew moved to Brooklyn, initially staying with his brother Greg. He would go on to live in Brooklyn for many years, a place he truly loved. He worked for DHL, driving delivery trucks through the busy streets of Manhattan, and other parts of the city, and also held other jobs there, including one in which he did carpentry work restoring old brownstones. He also continued hitting home runs while playing for a local softball team in his Williamsburg neighborhood. Drew had many friends in Brooklyn and was known as a funny, witty person who was always there to help when someone had a problem.