Christmas last year

This is a shot of George with Anna last Christmas at Tim's house in New York. This would just be a little more than a month before he died. Sometimes it makes sense - he had heart trouble for a long time - but it doesn't really make sense when you see this photo - he's got good color in his cheeks and looking much younger than his 76 years lets on. We all miss him.

Bear

I can only assume this is my dad's bear as a child. I remember this one limbed bear - but never asked about it's history - like so many things I'd like to ask about now. My brother sent a series of photos of George's stuff - small things from his office. This is one.

Sacramento Valley National Cemetery

Sacramento Valley National Cemetery
5810 Midway Road
Dixon, CA 95620
Phone: (707) 693-2460

The Memorial

The service for George was a truly beautiful and meaningful event - in the words of Artie - he would have fully approved (although modestly objected that we were making too much fuss). We all really appreciate everyone who came to support George, us, and our collective memory of George R. Thayer. I'll post a photo of his headstone at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery. For now though, here is a photo of George and his parents (1934).

I would still love to post more stories and remembrances - feel free to send.

From Rich and Susan Tantilla

It took me a while to be able to write about George. He was a dear friend, a mentor and part of my family.

I meet George for the first time in 1979 walking down my street trying to get listings. I wasn’t interested at the time but there was a connection that lasted 31 years. I ended up buying 2 houses and selling one thru him. We talked real estate, stocks, wines and even had a Sunday wine tasting by the pool that eventually included both my sons and brother in law. Mind you, we were not tasting vintage bottles…….but the best bottles under $4.99. We shared families, friends and life.

I was honored to meet Tim and Nick, Dale and Family, Artie and Family, MJ and George, Jon and Carla and many others. George was always keeping all his close ties together. The old saying, To Know Him is To love him.

We, along with MJ and George, Jon and Carla and his friends were quick to acknowledge, what started out as fondness and friendship, ended not only as caring but love. He was a true gentlemen and friend.

We all have our George stories, arriving home and finding him reading and watching the news, sitting out by the pool with some wine and eventually, sleeping on the couch. Our lives were blessed by his friendship, our families graced by his presence. He was Family.

Since moving 4 years ago to Tennesse, we were only able to see George once a year. We received his stock picks, jokes and articles weekly and talked over the phone a few times a month. Although never enough it was all that could be done.

George always surrounded himself with what he loved, family, friends, wine, traveling, stocks, cooking and of course cars. All of these things he loved deeply but the one thing that made it all come together was his marriage to Artie. He now had a friend, a lover, a business associate and a companion to share this all with.

May God Bless you George, as he has blessed us in knowing you.

- Rich, Susan and Family

From Aunt Ruth

My sister, Kathryn, was George Jr's mother. I was thirteen when Kathryn and George Sr. told us they were expecting a child. This child, George Jr. would be my parents (Phoebe and Henry Kettwich) first grandchild. Kathryn and George Sr. lived in Chenoa, IL, a distance of approximately 30 miles from my parents farm in rural Minonk, IL. Most Sunday's Kathryn and George Sr. came to my parent's home so my mother and Kathryn spent the afternoons making baby quilts and clothing.

Finally the expected phone call arrived, George Jr. was born. Everyone was excited, even my rather stern father, showed signs of excitement. George Jr. was born at home and shortly after his birth my mother stayed with them in their one bedroom home.

Once Kathryn was able to travel they resumed their Sunday visits to Minonk. My mother carefully planned the day so she would have adequate time holding and playing with George Jr. Many times I would travel back to Chenoa with them, spending the week and return home the following weekend. I remember when George Jr. was starting to crawl he found a worm on the floor of the screened porch and proceed to place it in his mouth. The worm was quickly removed.

When George Jr. was 2/3 the family moved from Chenoa to ElPaso, IL. For the move I was in charge of George Jr. I remember him walking around the new home crying and indicating he wanted to go home, meaning Chenoa. George Jr. would spend extra time at the Kettwich farm; he always enjoyed playing with the baby chicks and gathering eggs with my mother. When it was time for George Jr. to go home my mother always had a goodie bag for him filled with cookies, candy, apples or oranges.

When I was 17/18 my boyfriend and I would travel to ElPaso, 15 miles from the farm, and baby-sit with George Jr. I think George Jr. was about eight when they moved to Jacksonville, IL.

George Jr. and I have always had a special relationship. Throughout the years I enjoyed my visits to California and always looked forward to his phone calls and notes.

Aunt Ruth (Timmerman)

From Lydia and Bill Smith

The first is when Thayers and Smiths went to Italy in 2005. It is of Artie, Lydia Smith and George on the Appian Way near Rome.

The second and third are when George organized a group to take a cruise from St. Petersburg to Moscow, Russia, in 2007. Picture 2 shows Bill and George having a champagne cocktail at our arrival on the ship. Picture 3 is of Artie and George in Moscow in front of a shopping center called Gum.

We enjoyed all our travels with George and Artie. Our time with George really started in 1963 when he was the only person we knew at our Carson City, NV, court house marriage. No pictures from that but the pictures from a later reception are not good.

George Thayer was a 'one of a kind' person and we miss him.

From Henk and Carol Peeters

The attached photo shows George, Artie and friends in Turkey some years ago. George was unique, totally his own man, marching to his own drummer. When traveling with him it was not unusual for us to look around and ask: “Where is George”, after he had wandered off in pursuit of something intriguing. Yes, he did love cars and we have particularly fond memories of the Cadillac and VW wagon pictured below. We went camping with George in the Cadillac. After taking this monster up and down rocky dirt roads in the Sierras George had to invest in new shocks. As usual George was undaunted. After we were all first married in the sixties George picked up the VW in Germany and we traveled together first visiting my home town, Amsterdam, and then going on to France where we had memorable meals and great wine. We have fond memories of visiting the champagne cellars in Reims and Carol has not so fond memories of George’s reluctance to stop and find a ladies bathroom. In those days, in France, us guys just went behind a tree along the road.

We will miss him.

Henk and Carol Peeters

George Liked Cars (really!!!!!)

George liked cars. Above is just a small sampling - I can think of ten more cars not shown here - the 1979 Cadillac, the '84 diesel Mercedes, the orange Firebird with white interior, late 70's BMW 5 series, Pontiac Grand Am, Oldsmobile Cutlass, Buick Regal, untold numbers of Mercedes...we'll dig up some more photos and add 'em as we find them. (Click the photo to enlarge)

From Jovinita

I was in dire straights when I got to know George. He and Artie took care of me in their own home while they went about selling my family farm as my real estate agents. I would be chilling out in their basement family room, when it was a hundred degrees outside, and I would hear George calling me to breakfast or lunch or dinner. Before dinner, he would announce it was time for a glass of wine. He was always so gracious and generous with this strange friend of Artie's. He shared all his books and classic foreign films with me and even gave me shirts off his back! I will always miss him. -- Jovinita

Drawing from Tim Dryden

This is a picture I drew of George back in 1986 when I was 16. I have very fond memories of watching movies at George's house on Eastridge with Nick. Inevitably he would fall asleep in his chair with a glass of wine. I always had a lot of respect for George and loved that he always took interest in what was going on in my life. He will be very missed. Tim Dryden. (click to see full size)

George R Thayer

Here's Pops in Tarrytown, NY 2005. Reading as usual...

From Joan E Wooten Cannon

George was in my class of 1951 at Jacksonville High School in Jacksonville Illinois. He had a very quiet way about him but yet had a mischievous twinkle in his eye and came out with some really funny remarks, He was a very kind, polite young man. I am truly sorry for your families loss.

George ca. 1969

This is George pre-mustache around 1969/1970. He's about 36/37 in the photo.

From George Bouthillier

Sometimes you do not think that you can lose a person until it happens. Well I lost someone I cared for and enjoyed and have great memory's. I am thankful to have those memory's and pictures, especially the ones that come up on my screen saver. He was "unique" in a wonderful way and I will miss that and him.

From Tim

One thing I remember about my dad was the size of his hands - big. Of course, as a child any adult hand would be big - but even as an adult when I held my hand up next to his his was markedly bigger. He'd give me a pair of gloves that would never fit. As a kid riding around in the car with him he'd lay his hand down on the seat next to me, palm up and say "give me a little skin." I'd rub his palm with mine. It was always a nice comfort.

Pop in Hat

This photo was sent by Nick - this is from Dec. 2008. NYC

From Pete Lacey

We're so sorry to hear this news. He was such a nice man. He was the guy who had to kill our poor fish at Pine Mountain Lake. I'll always have good memories. Our hearts are with Artie and those that were so close to him.

George Photos

Thanks to MJ for the photos - George really loved reading - almost anything - I came across a lot of photos with him and a paper.

The smaller photo is Bob Curry, Artie, and George.

(click on either photo for a larger version)

From Sandy Smith

I know George will be missed. I am glad I had the opportunity and privilege to know such a nice man. Please give my heartfelt regards and sympathy to his dear wife Artie.

From Jon Fennell

Indeed, George was funny and quirky. Will miss his intelligent and opinionated personality at the beach house. God bless him now.

From MJ

I am deeply saddened by the loss of our oldest friend. I will not forget some of his best attributes. He had the ability to LISTEN to what a woman had to say (which so many men do not!) Some of the most interesting and satisfying conversations I’ve ever had in my life were with George. We talked about books, characters in books that we loved, life (or not) after death…anything you can think of. He talked to me about things most men have zero interest in. I just loved that in him

When any other man was around, George seemed different to me. He was at his best with women, I think.

He was quirky, totally but there was something I just loved so much in that man. Several times I remember telling him that I would not want to have lived my life without knowing him, as he was one of the most interesting people I have ever known. Thank God I told him that. I would have regretted so much not having done so!

George believed that, upon death, we just wink out. I hope that he is wrong, and that we “see” him in “Heaven” (or whatever it is out there).

-MJ Bouthillier

George and his parents

George Jr. with Kathryn and George Jr. (Georgie) with George Sr.
(click on photo for larger image)

George in snow suit

Hi and welcome.

This can be a place online to remember George by. The one photo in the header of this page is probably from his senior year in high school in Jacksonville Ill. The other photo is take on Chebeague Island off the coast of Maine in 2005. While my dad wasn't an avid cyclist, I like that it shows his ease with going with the flow.

Please send photos and stories to tt@eyebuzz.com and they'll be posted as they come in.

Thanks,
Tim Thayer
February, 2010