Ande Cruz Blackthunder, 20, passed away on Sunday, May 14th, 2023, in Yuma, Arizona. He was born December 31st, 2002, in Yuma, Arizona where he was raised for most of his life.

Ande moved to Tennessee with his father for his high school years. He played for Brighton High School where he played starting Quarterback for the JV team and moved on to playing for Covington High School's Varsity team at the Cornerback position.

Ande was always active in the sports community, playing basketball, football, soccer, t-ball, and eventually leading Crane Middle School to their first football championship in many years. He was very proud of his Native American heritage as he was a part of the Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin and Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate tribe. Ande also enjoyed hunting, fishing, archery, and had a tremendous love for animals, especially his dog Scout.

He was known to all for his silliness, jokes, and unrelenting pranks which we all have been a target of as well as having a bottomless pit of a stomach. Ande's goal in life was to do anything possible to ensure that all those who he loved were annoyed, especially his sisters Amre and Aljiah as well as his two brothers, Richard and Mozzy.

The family is deeply saddened for the loss of their son, brother, grandson, uncle, and cousin. Although Ande left us far too soon, he left a part of him for us to have a lasting memory of him through his beautiful daughter Luna who was born on July 30th, 2022. Ande's love for Luna's mom Dalylah Michelle Ramirez was immeasurable.

Ande is survived by his daughter Luna Blackthunder-Ramirez; parents, Michael (Rick) and Lidia Blackthunder; sisters, Amre and Alijah (Robert), Avi, Ariel, and Skai; brothers, Mozzy and Richard; grandparents, Maria Cruz Garcia, Everette and Brenda (Dolly) Black Thunder, Loren and Susan Hughes, and Silvia Moore Manning-Rodrique; along with many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Ande is preceded in death by Francisco O. Garcia (Maternal Grandfather), Edna Blackthunder (Paternal Grandmother), Francisco J. Garcia (Uncle), and Sonny Rodrique (Grandfather).

Ande also had a large adoptive family who loved him as if he was their own; Coach Joe Aiello and his wife Denise, Coach Alfonso Brown and his wife Alonda, Coach Sal Hernandez and his wife Blanca, along with Alfred and Crystal Hernandez who were a second family to Ande, helping raise and guide Ande throughout his life. Their son AJ was a brother to Ande and an extraordinary part of his life.

Pallbearers: Franky Garcia, AJ Hernandez, Craig Mills, Olegario Zazueta, Anthony Hernandez, Robert Paige, Alfred Hernandez, and Xavier Garcia

Honorary Pallbearers: Hugo Garcia, Pete Escalanti IV, Coach Joe Aiello, Coach Alfonso Brown, Coach Sal Hernandez, Richard Silva Jr., Evette Jones, Mitchell and Rosie Maskewit, and Michelle Cartier