GARY GEORGE

Gary George, 71, of Canton, Missouri was called Home by Our Blessed Savior on January 16, 2016, at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, Illinois.

Born on March 30, 1944, in Watertown, New York, to Harry and Margaret Oatman George. He married Rebecca Fishback on September 28, 1965, in Canton, Missouri. She survives.

Gary served in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1967, stationed in Germany. He was very proud to have served his country.

After leaving the service, Gary worked at a furniture factory in Monrovia, California. The family relocated to Missouri in 1968 and Gary worked for 11 years at the Irwin Paper Company in Quincy, Illinois. He worked at Charles Industries in Canton from 1979 until his “retirement” in 2006. In retirement, Gary worked part-time at Casey’s, Subway, and drove a taxi. He then took on a full-time position at Casey’s doing work he thoroughly enjoyed, preparing delicious breakfast food in the wee hours of the morning.

Gary was a precious gift from God to all that knew him, but especially to his family and close friends. Nothing in this world was as precious to him as spending time with his wife, children, and grandchildren. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in LaGrange where he served as Deacon. He enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, bowling, and going to Vegas.

He is survived by his wife, Rebecca George of Canton; a son, John George, and his wife, Julie, of Canton; a daughter, Tina Combs, and her husband, Jack, of Quincy, Illinois; four grandchildren, Julie Moore and her husband, Jimmy, of St. Louis, Missouri, Eli Combs of Quincy, Illinois, and Andy and Alex George, of Canton; two brothers, Wayne of New York, and Harry of Washington, a sister, Beatrice of California, and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his infant son Jeffie, his parents, and three brothers Howard, Floyd, and Gerald (in infancy).

Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 21, 2016 at 10 a.m. at Arnold’s Funeral Home in Canton, Missouri with Rev. Milton Baumgardner officiating. Visitation will be held Wednesday evening from 4 until 7 p.m. at Arnold’s Funeral Home.

Pallbearers: Tony Dye, Jeff Wright, Sean Webster, James Scott, Eric Goodwin and Nathan Stice. Honorary Grandchildren Pallbearers: Julie Moore, Eli Combs, Andy George and Alex George. Music provided by organist Dorothy Gillespie.

Burial with Military Honors by Otto Bruner Post 170 will be in Forest Grove Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Wounded Warriors Project or Children’s Christmas Schoolbox Ministry.