Obituary

Surrounded by her family, on Thursday, May 27, 2021, Mandi Michelle Zimin, loving wife, daughter, granddaughter, sister, and aunt, passed away at the age of 36. Mandi was born in Anchorage, Alaska on December 12, 1984, to her parents Shirley (Grindle) and Carvel Zimin Jr. She grew up in South Naknek, Alaska and Washington.

Mandi received her bachelor’s degree in political science from Western Washington University. Mandi fell in love with Washington, making it her home away from home. She met her husband Andy Andrewson while she was working at the front desk at the local gym in Bellingham. Mandi and Andy were married in a beautiful wedding ceremony on September 14, 2014. They settled down and built a life together in Ferndale, Washington with their miniature dachshund, Mulder. Mandi worked as a court clerk at Ferndale Municipal Court, and her career led her to working as a court clerk at Whatcom County Superior Court. Later, she began working as a utility billing clerk for the City of Ferndale.

Mandi loved coming home to Bristol Bay in the summers to commercial fish and spend time with her family. At a very young age, she was trained to be an expert beach boss by her grandparents Carvel Sr. and Annie, her aunt Carol, and cousin Annette. She operated her own commercial fishing setnet site, managing all the responsibilities of commercial fishing and operating her own skiff. Mandi loved what she did, and she was always proud to be known as a fisherman. She loved to share her catch of salmon with family and friends, always making sure that everyone had a fish in their freezers. Mandi’s strength and self-determination was heavily influenced by her grandfather Carvel Sr., and the many strong women in her life, her mother, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, and cousins. And to no one’s surprise, Mandi became a hard-working, independent, giving, creative, and successful woman. As a hobby she started making beaded earrings, where her creativity turned into her business, Mandi Mae Designs. Mandi loved spending time with family, traveling, gardening, watching movies, visiting her friends, and spoiling her dog Mulder.

She is survived by her husband Andy Andrewson, parents Carvel and Shirley Zimin, parents-in-law Steve and Jan Andrewson, grandmother Annie Zimin, her sister and brother-in-law Sonya and Sam Stewart, sister Ryann Zimin, sister Sammantha Smith, sister-in-law Rebecca Barry, her nephews Samuel, Liam, Isaiah, Tobiah, Micah, and Caleb, her nieces Lydia, Rayna, Jana, and Eloise, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and extended family. Mandi was preceded in death by her grandparents, Sophia Ashnok, Frederick Grindle Jr., and Carvel Zimin, Sr.

She will be deeply missed by her family and friends. We can all hope that Mandi is at peace with Grandpa Carvel, who she loved deeply, and they are smiling and watching over us all. Family and friends will gather at South Naknek setnet beach on July 24, 2021 for a memorial service and the scattering of her ashes.