GEORGE ALEXANDER FERLEY

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GEORGE ALEXANDER FERLEY On June 12, 2000, following a short but courageous battle with cancer, George Alexander Ferley, age 57 years, of Dauphin, Man., beloved husband of Belva (Armstrong) and father of Ian Thomas and Grant Andrew. George was born on the family farm near Malonton, Man., on June 27, 1942. He spent his early years in Winnipeg Beach, Man., moving to Winnipeg, Man., in 1957. George graduated from Manitoba Teachers College in 1962 and began his teaching career in a one-room country schoolhouse at Whitemouth Lake, Man. In 1965 he accepted a teaching position in Whitemouth, Man., and in 1967 became principal of Whitemouth Elementary School, beginning his thirty-year career as a school administrator. In 1968 George and Belva were married in Winnipeg, and they were later blessed with the births of their two sons. George continued to work on obtaining his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees. In 1974, George and his family moved to Dauphin, where he became vice-principal of MacKenzie Junior High School and in 1987, principal of Lt. Col. William Barker Elementary School. George also served as principal of Henderson and Ochre River Elementary Schools, retiring in 1997 after 35 years in the teaching profession. George enjoyed participating in several sports, especially curling, basketball and baseball. He was very active in the community, conducting coaches clinics, umpiring baseball and coaching both school and community teams. George was a devoted father who spent his sons growing years at hockey and baseball tournaments, music concerts and music camp. He could always be counted on to drive a van load of young people to and from each event. In his all too short retirement years, he volunteered as treasurer for the Selo Ukraina Board. He was a member of Vermillion Lodge #68 AF & AM, Rabboni Chapter #7 RAM, Dauphin, Mount Carmel Preceptory #44, KT & KM, Portage la Prairie, Khartum Temple AAONMS, Winnipeg and the Dauphin and District Shrine Club. Surviving besides his wife Belva and their two sons are his mother Sophie Ferley of Selkirk, Man.; two sisters, Joyce Marrison and Joan Ferley, all of Vancouver, B.C.; one uncle Fred (Edith) Pankiw of Toronto, Ont.; aunts, Regina Pankiw of Grande Prairie, Alta., Frances Pankiw of Teulon, Man., Dr. Mary Pankiw of Winnipeg, Man.; several nieces, nephews and his many Pankiw cousins. George is also survived by his mother-in-law Jean Armstrong; brother-in-law Robert (Heather) Armstrong, all of Winnipeg; and sister-in-law Anne Yacuik of Edmonton, Alta. He was predeceased by his father John and his father-in-law Wilfred Armstrong. Vermillion Lodge #68 AF & AM will conduct a Masonic Memorial Tribute Thursday evening (tonight), at 8:30 p.m. in the Sneath-Strilchuk Funeral Chapel, 502 Main St. N., Dauphin, Man. The service is open to all wishing to attend. Funeral service will be held on Friday, June 16, at 2:30 p.m. in the Dauphin First United Church, Rev. Freda Rajotte officiating with the service to conclude at the Church. A graveside interment service will be held on Saturday, June 17, at 11:00 a.m. in Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens, Winnipeg. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of George may be made to CancerCare Manitoba, 100 Olivia St., Winnipeg, Man., R3E 0V9, or to a charity of ones choice. The Sneath-Strilchuk Funeral Service have care of the arrangements. Phone (204) 638-4110.

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 15, 2000