What is the history of Andy Taylor before we met him as Sheriff of Mayberry?
In the first episode, Andy says that Aunt Bee raised him when he was no bigger than Opie was at the time (about 6 years old.) This seems to indicate that Andy’s mother died when he was very young. There are a few more hints here and there, but they’re all in scenes that are always cut out. In “Class Reunion” Andy says he used to strike matches on the soles of his daddy’s boots, and in “Keeper of the Flame,” Andy tells his son that he too used to be keeper of the flame for a secret club, until his (Andy’s) daddy indicated that he ought to give up the job. Andy adds, “…and he indicated it REAL good, right back there” (he pats his rear end.) There’s also a scene in “A Plaque for Mayberry,” that sort of fits this category. Opie asks if it’s barely possible that Nathan Tibbs could have been his grandpa. Andy says it’s not even remotely possible, because that would have made Nathan Tibbs his Paw, and that would make him out to be at least 170 years old. BTW, Aunt Bee must be the sister of
