RAYMOND STEVE GEORGE

A Celebration of Life for Wasilla resident Raymond Steve George, 76, will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father William Fournier officiating.

A visitation will be at the church beginning at 1 p.m. until service time. Private burial will be at a later date at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. Pallbearers are Patrick George, Luke George, Brett Keene, Miles George, Jake George, Brad George, Jet George, Cole George and Chancie Hanson.

Raymond died June 11, 2010, from complications of hairy cell leukemia. He was born in Wilma, Wash., on June 23, 1933. He served in the Navy from 1952 to 1960 and was on the USS Kearsarge from 1952 to 1956. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Idaho in 1961. He came to Alaska in 1965 and lived in Anchorage from 1965 to 1972 and then in Wasilla from 1972 until his passing. He worked for the U.S. Geological Survey in Anchorage from 1965 until his retirement in 1985.

He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and St. Michaels Catholic Church. Ray enjoyed Seawolf hockey, halibut fishing in Deep Creek and camping and fishing on the Kenai. Many years he was involved with the building committee at Sacred Heart.

According to his family, “Dad passed peacefully with family by his side. He will be remembered for how he made each of us feel loved. He never had an unkind word and was always a gentleman. He was a positive example to us with his commitment to faith, family and country.”

He was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Nancy Elizabeth George, and three brothers, Archie, Don and Henry George.

He is survived by four sons and daughters-in-law, Stan and Brenda George and Andrew and Stephanie George both of Wasilla, Martin and Caroline George of Palmer and Bryan George of Sutton; two daughters and sons-in-law, Alicia and Floyd Hernandez of Katy, Texas, and Margaret and Kevin Keene of Wasilla; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Lee and Virginia Moberly of Middleton, Idaho; two sisters, Margaret Johnson of Gifford, Idaho, and Marie Price of Lewiston, Idaho; three sisters-in-law, Pat George of Kamiah, Idaho, Shirley Halleen and Eileen George, both of Lewiston, Idaho; grandchildren, Patrick George, Melissa George, Haley George, Luke George, Price Hernandez, Eli Hernandez, Olivia Hernandez, Kristina Voelk, Jenny Voelk, Derek and Amanda George, Miles George, Jake George, Brad George, Jet George, Cole George, Karl George, Mateis George, Kristi Keene and Brett Keene; and one great-granddaughter, Kali Mueller.

The family has requested that memorial contributions be directed to the Blood Bank of Alaska, 4000 Laurel St., Anchorage, AK 99508.

Arrangements by Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel and Crematory, Wasilla.