HAROLD J. "JIM" GEORGE
Harold J. “Jim” George Jr. was born on August 25, 1934 in El Dorado, Kansas, to Harold J. and Charline (Cross) George. He passed away on December 22, 2018, at home, at the age of 84.
Jim graduated from Clyde High School in 1951. He attended the University of Kansas and graduated with the Class of 1955. After a short period as an accountant with Arthur Anderson & Co., he entered pilot training in the United States Air Force in May of 1956. He married Sharon L. Pickerill on November 12, 1956 at St. John the Baptist Church in Clyde. Jim graduated from jet pilot training in June of 1957. In April of 1959, Jim and his family returned to Clyde to join his father in the automotive and farm implement business. From April 15, 1959 until December of 2018, Jim was active in the family business.
Jim was an active community citizen. He served twelve years as a City Councilman, twenty-two years as Mayor, thirty-six years as U.S.D. #224 Treasurer, and forty-four years as a member of the Park Villa Nursing Home Board of Directors. He also served on the Cloud County Community College Foundation Board of Directors, Cloud County Community College Scholarship Auction Committee, St. John’s Finance Council, Cemetery Board, Clyde Chamber of Commerce, Clyde Lions Club and other social/fraternal organizations. Jim also took great pleasure in being a member of the St. John’s Choir.
Jim’s greatest personal interests in life were his religion and his family. From his early teaching at home and at St. Ann’s Catholic School in Clyde, he realized that his wife and children came first and material things took second place. He took great pride in his children’s academic and personal achievements. He always said, “You can do what you want to do, but be the best you can be, at what you do.”
Jim is survived by his wife, Sharon, of 62 years; daughters, Stacie Derousseau (Armand), Grapevine, Texas, Sandra Ferguson (Corey), Salina, Kansas, Kelly George, Topeka, KS.; Carolyn George, Leawood, KS.; sons, Michael George (Barbara), Clyde and Steven George (Kendra), Clyde; grandchildren, Ryan Derousseau (Laurie), Huntington Station, New York, Shayla Buttell (Jerid), Irving, TX., Taylor Derousseau (Kelsey), Grapevine, TX., Ty Derousseau, Portland, Oregon; Kelsie George, Dallas, TX., Nicole George, Chicago, Illinois, Jamie Provost (Zack), Basehor, KS., Michelle George, Wichita, KS., Cori Jo Durall (Graham), Salina, KS., Melissa Clark (Tom), Lecompton, KS., Lorelle Dixon (Spencer), Salina, KS., Joshua Ferguson, Salina, KS., Benjamin George (Whitney), Manhattan, KS., Katie Erickson (Joel), Mesa, Arizona, Kenzie Simon (Lee), Rochester, Minnesota; great-grandchildren, Noah Derousseau, Harper Buttell, Amelia Derousseau, Michael Riggins Provost, Alivia Durall, Grayson Durall, Wyatt Clark, Mason Clark, Owen Clark, Korbin Dixon, Connor Dixon and Archer George.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Charline George and Dorothy Gonzales, and brother Edward.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 27, 2018 from 12-5 p.m. at Chaput Mortuary and after 6 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Clyde with a vigil service at 7 p.m. at the church with the family greeting friends following the vigil.
Mass of a Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, December 28, 2018 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Clyde with Fr. Steven Heina officiating. Burial will follow at the Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Clyde.
The family suggests memorials to either the Mount Calvary Cemetery Fund or Park Villa Nursing Home in care of the funeral home. For online condolences, please visit www.chaputbuoy.com.