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George Henry Shaw

George Henry Shaw

Feb. 9, 1948 - May 26, 2023

Date of Service: Jun. 14, 2023

MARIETTA, GEORGIA – George Henry Shaw of Marietta, Georgia, died May 26, 2023, after suffering a stroke that required emergency surgery. Over the course of the week in the Neurology ICU, he improved and spent meaningful time with his family by speaking a few hoarse words (including Coke Zero) and squeezing his family’s hands. He then quickly declined and passed away on the 26th. He was 75 years old and preparing to serve a mission with his wife, DeEtte, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Denver, Colorado area.

He was born February 9, 1948, in McComb, Mississippi, the youngest of three sons born to George Fletcher and Frances Dorothy Klingman Shaw. He grew up in the small railroad town of McComb and graduated from McComb High School and Southwest Mississippi Community College before heading west in 1968 to earn a Business Management degree from Brigham Young University in 1970. While at BYU, he met a farm girl, DeEtte Hanks, from Burley, Idaho, and they were married in Idaho Falls Idaho Temple on June 1, 1971.

His education and post-college career were financed by Kemper Insurance Company by a scholarship and then employment where he held a variety of positions with Kemper in several states: Jackson, Mississippi, Orlando Florida, Plano, Texas, and Atlanta, Georgia, before the nearly century-old business closed. He was then able to travel and enjoy training others in e-Commerce with the Harbinger Corporation. George’s last professional job as Business Support Analyst with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in Decatur, Georgia, was the job he enjoyed most. He had a variety of responsibilities but enjoyed screening candidates for employment, working with the locksmiths and security and even was at the morgue now and then.

Following his retirement in early 2017, he liked to say he was the Managing General Partner at Retired. George and DeEtte traveled extensively, especially to see their five children, who are scattered throughout the United States. George’s family and his religious faith were his greatest passions. He and DeEtte were truly fortunate to have a year of travel in 2022 and fulfilled DeEtte’s dream of a safari in Africa. The wonderful year culminated with a trip to Arizona in December, to see his first college roommate who became a life-long friend.

George was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Fletcher, his in-laws, Phil and Buelah Hanks. He is survived by his brother David (Daphne), his wife and five children: Christie (Brad) Gammill, Kimberly (Nick)Tustison, Douglas (Staci) Shaw, David P. Shaw, and Jeff (Laura) Shaw. Ten beloved grandchildren lost their Grandpa George.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 14, at Rasmussen-Wilson Funeral Home, located at 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, where family and friends may call from 9:30 until 10:45 a.m., prior to the service. Burial will follow at Pleasant View Cemetery in Burley.

Donations on behalf of George H. Shaw can be mailed to the following:
Southwest MS Community College Alumni Association
C/O Mrs. Loran Gerald
1156 College Drive
Summit, MS 39666

Or if you prefer an online payment option, you may use Zelle to send your donation to Christie Gammill (George’s oldest daughter) who is coordinating with the college. Payment via Zelle to csgammill@bellsouth.net with a memo “George Shaw.”

Listen to the Service:

Condolences for George Henry Shaw

Comments may be screened and removed by the staff as deemed appropriate.

From Gerald Egan:
Sorry to hear about your loss.
From Diann Keaton Beckham-Smith:
Oh my dear DeEtte,
I am so sorry to hear of George’s passing. He was such a wonderful friend. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time.
From Robert Galofaro:
George and I were classmates from first grade to high school graduation. In elementary school, we built gas-powered model airplanes together, and they actually flew. After high school graduation, we lost contact with each other as we went to different colleges and built careers in different parts of the country. I last saw George at a high school reunion about ten years ago. He was still the friend that he always was to me and everyone else. We all lost a good friend with George's passing. Condolences to DeEtte and his entire family.
From Rick & Pam Klomp:
Dear DeEtte, Pam and I were shocked to learn of George's unexpected transition from this life to the next. I immediately thought about all the stake youth dances that we helped plan, run--and most importantly--clean up after. In fact vacuuming a cultural hall may have been where I first met George. What a dedicated disciple and undershepherd of the Good Shepherd he was--and is. Father's timeframes and plans often differ from ours. We hope His spirit will comfort you and your lovely family and confirm that, as George would have wanted it, His will not ours, was done. Sending lots of love and prayers your way in this challenging time, DeEtte!
From Ed White:
Hadn't seen George in probably 50 years. We went to high school together. When we discovered my wife had cancer, she elected to go to Cancer Treatment Centers in Newnan. George had seen on facebook that we would be making a trip and he met us at the hospital. Went to dinner, caught up on some of the past 50 years. He visited us several times when we were there. Very generous man with a big, compassionate heart. Will miss seeing him on our visits to Newnan.
From Bonnie Martin:
George was much more than my boss. From the day he hired me in 1986 he was such a guiding influence in my career. He shared his knowledge and his friendship always guiding me in the right direction. He was there for me when my mother died. He drove me home because he knew I should not drive. My favorite memory of George was on a business trip to Memphis. I was a huge Elvis fan. We finished work early and had a few hours to kill before our flight back to Atlanta. I asked if we could go to Graceland and even though he had no desire to see it he went with me. I wish things had gone differently and we could have stayed together at Kemper until retirement. Our prayers are with your family. George will truly be missed.
From Susan Nielson Swann:
DeEtte, sending my love and condolences.
From Steve and Luanne Clark:
We were devastated when we heard the news, and our hearts go out to you and your children. We know angels are with you and our loving HF will bestow His tender mercies to sustain and comfort you. Life is so fragile, but you and George made the most of every day you shared together. Those memories and his love will carry you on.
From Wesley I and Carol Wilson:
DeEtte, this is hard to believe. I never did get to spend much time around George, but I always thought you two were such a wonderful couple. I can imagine your mother crying buckets for you. She is so compassionate; like you. Thank heaven for the Plan of Salvation! I know you will be comforted as you go through this. We love you.

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