Obituary of George Orr

George Arthur Orr was born on February 11, 1928, in Camrose to A.W. (Jack) and Bertha Orr of the Rosalind/Kelsey area, the second of eight children. He passed away on August 29, 2016, at the age of 88 years. George went to school at Melville and Rosalind, and from 1944 to 1946 attended Olds School of Agriculture. He was an excellent baseball player. In 1956, George married Peggy Weller of the Spring Lake area, and they farmed near Spring Lake, then north of Strome, and later near Ohaton. He sold the farm after they divorced, and took other jobs before buying a hotel at Smith. He sold the hotel and later came back to the home farm in 1979. In this semi-retirement stage, he helped brother Neil on the farm and took other casual jobs, cooked for his dad, and raced in the pony chuckwagon circuit. One of his biggest enjoyments in his life was his horses. In 1990, while at the chuckwagon races in Red Deer, George suffered a severe stroke that left him unable to move. He battled back from that to return home to the farm, and lived independently for the next 26 years. For many years he continued to take his trailer to many of the races, and was up early to exercise his friends' horses (tied to his truck). No matter what the weather, George went to the Rosalind Seniors Drop-in daily to open up and to start the coffee, and in summers he had a regular spot at the coffee table with his friends at Double Dam Golf Course. At family get-togethers and visits, George particularly looked forward to seeing the little kids. He displayed his sense of humour right to the end. George is survived by his brothers Chester (Mary Ellen), Melvin (Dorothy), and Neil (Donna); sister Nellie (Don) Zimmer; sister-in-law Connie Orr; and many nieces and nephews, great and great-great nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sisters Laura Sand and Geneva Helmig; brother James; brothers-in-law Howard Sand and Jim Helmig; one nephew; one niece; one great-nephew; and one infant great-niece. A Memorial Service was held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 7, 2016 from the Rosalind Community Hall. Inurnment has taken place in the Melville Cemetery. If family and friends so desire, memorial contributions are gratefully accepted to the Battle River Community Foundation - Rosalind Community Fund, the Melville Cemetery Fund, or to the Alberta Cancer Foundation.