Obituary of George Stanley Horne

July 1, 1926 - Calgary, Alberta

July 21, 2024 - Calgary, Alberta

George passed peacefully at the age of 98 years, on Sunday, July 21, 2024, in Calgary, AB, with family members at his side, at Wentworth Manor.

George is survived by his wife Hansel, sister Sheila Reed, five children, David (Leah), Joan Sveen, Darryl (Kate), Stephen (Beth), and Susan Hicks (Al); sixteen grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren. What a tremendous legacy.

He was born in Calgary on July 1, 1926. He lived his entire life in Alberta. His grade school years were in Calgary, then off to the University of Alberta in 1943, graduating with a Chemical Engineering degree in 1947. It was in 1948, working for Texaco Oil on an assignment for the great state of Texas, that he met a Southern Belle, Hansel Murrell. George and Hansel were married in Galveston, Texas, then ventured to Edmonton, AB, to start their life together. In August 2024, they would have celebrated their 75^th wedding anniversary.

Together George and Hansel raised their children in Calgary but spent weekends and summers on the family horse ranch in Priddis. Trail rides and pack trips with his kids became George’s passion. Then he did it all over again with his grandchildren. He last mounted up on his 90^th birthday. His ‘cowboy’ legacy lives on.

George and Hansel moved the family home from Calgary to the Priddis ranch in 1974, from which George commuted to work before retiring as a VP at Canadian Occidental in 1984, with his company gift, Gert, the pig. George was in his element with his favourite dog Jake, as well as Smokey and his many horses over the years. In 1995, they moved back to Calgary and continued the tradition of family gatherings. All those grandchildren with spouses and great-grandchildren make for large gatherings and strong family ties.

He was a longtime member of the Downtown Rotary Club. He was also a good athlete. Prior to the ‘horse business’, George golfed, played hockey, biked, and curled. The curling continued into his 90s and his love for sports has been passed on to his kids, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Thank you to the staff at Wentworth Manor for their caring support of ‘gentleman’ George in his time there.

A private Celebration of George’s Life will be held at a later date.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Salvation Army, 1731 29th Street SW, Calgary, AB, T3C 1M6, Telephone: 403-410-1112, www.salvationarmy.ca.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with George's family here.

In living memory of George Horne, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, Ab t2x 3j3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.