George Francis Paley

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George Paley Obituary

George Francis Paley

George Francis Paley was born December 19, 1948 in Sharon, CT the first child of Morris and Emma (Carberry) Paley. He grew up working on the family dairy farm and helped raise his seven siblings. He passed away Sunday, January 10, 2016, surrounded by family at his home in Lawrence. He will be laid in the ground in a private Bahá'í ceremony, according to his wishes.

He graduated with honors with a BA in Communications in Radio-Television-Film from the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin.

George was an artist, musician, entrepreneur and collector. He loved to travel, to experience new places and people, to play piano and to ride his vintage motorcycles with friends and family. George visited Mexico and Central America, Europe, Russia, Indonesia, Cuba, Vietnam, Thailand, and other countries on his business and personal travels.

George was active in the Lawrence art scene as a sculptor and patron, and helped launch the Warehouse Arts District and Lawrence Creates Makerspace. He contributed to the development of small businesses downtown.

He married Judy Gerling on July 24, 1976 in Sharon, CT.

George left behind wife Judy G. Paley, Lawrence, KS; mom Emma Paley, Sharon, CT; Dalton Paley, Lawrence, KS; Austin Paley, Sarah Gibbins-Paley, and grandchildren Wyatt Paley and Aesa Paley, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; C. Max Paley, Denver, CO; and dog Gus and barn cat Levon II, Lawrence, KS. Joining him at the Great Gig in the Sky is brother Douglas Paley and father Morris Paley. To read more on George's life, please see Chad Lawhorn's article "The two minds of George Paley" in the Lawrence Journal World, April 13, 2014. HYPERLINK http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2014/apr/13/lawhorns-lawrence-two-minds-george-paley/

A casual party for George, 67, Lawrence will be held from 4 – 8 p.m. Sunday, January 17, 2016 at the Cider Gallery in Lawrence.

Memorial donations may be made in his name to KU Endowment in support of the Department of Visual Art (06257) Sculpture Program or to the Lawrence Memorial Hospital Oncology Center, and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary.

Online condolences may be sent to HYPERLINK "http://www.warrenmcelwain.com" www.warrenmcelwain.com.

Please sign this guestbook at Obituaries.LJWorld.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Lawrence Journal-World on Jan. 14, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for George Paley

14 Entries

January 27, 2016

Dear Judy and family,
I shall miss visiting with George at the Farmers Market on many a Saturday morning. However, we have a big Cawley-LeMay stove that we purchased from George many years ago. We will think of him every day as it is a big presence,just like George was.
Pam and Gene Carvalho, Baldwin,Ks.

Tom King

January 17, 2016

Wherever you go, George, I'm sure you'll find the most interesting places. Bon voyage, good soul.

James Grauerholz

January 17, 2016

Judy I just learned and I am very very saddened.
George: our dear mutual friend William B. has been looking for you, walking around heaven all day ... I know he wants to hear you laugh again and see your smile. Give him our love. Down here, I miss you terribly.

Denise DeTommaso

January 17, 2016

Dear Judy and family, George is so missed. He has had such an impact on the world and on the lives of so many. The most important lesson I learned from George was to recognize each day as a gift, and to share love and creativity and any gifts with others. My sincere Condolences. I will be thankful every day for George and the opportunity to call him my friend.

January 17, 2016

George was truly a free spirit and has passed his unique sense of life as an adventure by his example to his three wonderful sons.He always had the kindest, most encouraging words about the artistic talents of our beloved Rachael. Our family knows the grief and pain of losing a person like George who was such a light in a family, and we will hold Judy, Austin, Dalton and Max in our thoughts at this time of loss. With kindest regards. Dan and Susie Huffman

Wanda Dykstra

January 17, 2016

My thoughts and prayers for you,Judy, and family. You folks were such an important part of my life while I lived in Lawrence. Many fond memories.Love, Wanda Dykstra

Dennis and Peggy Salyer

January 17, 2016

Dear Judy, I'm so sorry to hear of George's passing. We just heard about it in church. I meet George in 1970 when I was working at Round Corner for my parents and he had started his little shop on down the way. He was always so nice to me. We take each day as a blessing, he's in God's hands now. I visited with him just a couple of months ago at the gym, and he was working out very hard, I was glad to visit with him one last time. He was a good man. God bless you and your family in this time of sadness.

Elizabeth Kurata

January 16, 2016

I was saddened to hear of George's passing. I will always remember his kind advice when I first started a business in 1985. My deepest condolences to Judy and the family.

Steven L. George

January 16, 2016

Please accept my deepest sympathies.

Sherri Coleman Hanna

January 15, 2016

Dear Judy, I'm so terribly sorry to hear of your loss. I have such fond memories of you and George "back in the day" and hope similar memories will comfort you as well.

January 15, 2016

Dear Paley Family. Mike and I are so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this very sad time. Mike and Teresa Treanor

Phil Minkin

January 14, 2016

Best wishes to Judy and the family. I and Lawrence lost a true friend.

Constance Wolfe

January 14, 2016

George was an inspiration in my life!

January 14, 2016

My sincere condolences. God is s God of comfort and may he give you the comfort and strength you need in such difficult time.

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