MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho – Evander Andrews was remembered fondly as a loving husband and father; a man who loved to get his fingernails dirty but one who also made the best pecan pie in town.

At a civilian memorial in Mountain Home, a military community 10 miles from the sprawling Air Force Base in southwest Idaho, Andrews, 36, was eulogized as a crack mechanic and heavy equipment operator, a man who knew his way around a kitchen, and a warrior who gave his life for the country he loved.

Andrews was killed in a forklift accident on the Arabian Peninsula last week. His was the first reported death connected with the U.S. retaliation against terrorism.

Andrews was assigned to the 366th Civil Engineer Squadron at Mountain Home Air Force Base. The Air Force honored Andrews in a military service at the base on Wednesday. Thursday evening, it was the community’s turn.

At the First Southern Baptist Church, the 250-seat worship hall was filled almost to capacity with friends, family and co-workers who shared their memories.

Judy Andrews, Evander’s widow, said her husband loved farms, trucks, heavy equipment, children, his family, the Air Force and his God.

“He said ‘I’ll come home, but God’s in control.’ I know where he is. My children know where he is,” Andrews said.

“Do I break down and cry? Yes. I hurt. My children hurt. They want their daddy. But we’ll get through this with the Lord’s help.”

Mary Ellen Tollman, Andrews’ music teacher from a church camp in his hometown of Solon, Maine, remembered him as “a polite, well-behaved young man.”

“Music wasn’t his forte, but he tried hard. I don’t remember him ever complaining about anything. He was a nice boy from a nice, hard-working family.”

Chief Master Sgt. Ron Fox, one of Andrews’ supervisors at Mountain Home Air Force Base, recalled Andrews as a man who could fix anything.

“He was always helping everyone. A lot of people are wondering who’ll fix their cars now,” Fox said.

A funeral will be held Monday at Fort Meyer, Va., followed by burial with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.