George Raleigh Wolleat
George Raleigh Wolleat, 92, passed away at the Libby Care Center on Jan. 21, 2024.
George was born on Oct. 10, 1931, in Brainerd, Minnesota to Richard and Marvel Wolleat. Shortly after they moved to Sweet Home, Oregon where George would attend school and meet Shirley Carlson whom he married June 29, 1952.
Early on George worked as a timber cruiser and surveyor for large timber companies in Oregon and later as a construction foreman on numerous dams, bridges, tunnels and nuclear power plants which took him and his family all over Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Montana and California.
They moved to Libby in June of 1968 where George was a laborer and foreman in the construction of the Libby Dam. Even though they still moved around some after that, Libby held their hearts the longest and this is where they made their forever home and returned to it, eventually working at Asarco in the rock crusher at the end of his career.
George was a devout Catholic and Knight of Columbus, husband, father and grandfather. He conveyed his love of camping, fishing, mushroom and berry picking, cutting firewood, hunting, traveling, cooking and gardening to his children and grandchildren and involved them in those activities as much as possible.
The woods, his garden, or at his kitchen table with a hot cup of black coffee, were his favorite places to be.
George is survived by his wife of 71 years, Shirley; his children, Raleigh (Linda) Wolleat of Federal Way, Washington, Theresa (Stan) Alkire of Livingston, Montana, Steve (Cheryl) Wolleat of Libby, and Michael Wolleat of Libby; Grandchildren Josh Alkire, George Alkire, Shannon Wolleat, Mary Edwards, Byron Wolleat, Kyleen Blank, Richard Wolleat and Joseph Wolleat; numerous great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; his brother Jack (Rhoda) Hatcher and his sister Janice Parkton, all of Lowell, Oregon.
George is also survived by his amazing friends and neighbors, Roger and Lynn Osterhues, and their family to whom we will be forever grateful for.
A viewing was held at Schnackenberg Funeral Home on Wednesday, Jan. 24. A rosary was held at on Thursday, Jan. 25, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Services followed with interment at the Libby Cemetery immediately following. A luncheon was also held at the St Joseph Parish Hall after the interment.
The family would like to thank the staff at the Libby Care Center and at Cabinet Peaks ICU for the loving care they provided to George during his last days.
Arrangements are under the care of Schnackenberg Funeral Home of Libby. Online memories and condolences may be shared by visiting www.schnackenbergfh.com.