George William Burtchett, born July 25, 1929, passed away August 17, 2021 at home in Arcata, surrounded by family. George was a Christian whose faith and love for God was strong to the end as he anticipated seeing Jesus.

George was born in Oakland and grew up in San Francisco. For college, George attended UC Berkeley getting a bachelor’s degree in forestry and later a master’s degree in biology from Humboldt State University.

George met his wife, Wilda Kellogg, at church, and they were married on July 8th, 1951. They moved to Klamath that same year, where George worked for Simpson Timber Company until 1955. They then moved to Arcata and George started a teaching career at Arcata High School that lasted 31 years. He taught forestry, aviation science and biology. He enjoyed teaching and seeing his students succeed and developed a great rapport with many over the years. George retired in 1986.

George was a committed husband and father, and he and Wilda enjoyed their lives together raising their family and enjoying the beautiful redwoods and beaches. He spent countless hours helping his children with their 4-H and FFA animal projects and sports activities. There were many memorable summer family camping and sightseeing trips. He also did commercial and sport fishing for many years out of Trinidad Harbor. George was very involved in leadership, small group fellowships and teaching in the churches he attended and in later years was involved with mission’s trips. He loved nature and passed his love and knowledge of nature on to his children and grandchildren.

George’s wife Wilda passed away in 2003 after 52 years of marriage. He was blessed by God to meet Kathy Walters at Faith Center Church in Eureka, and they married in January 2006. George and Kathy had 15 wonderful years of marriage enjoying spending time gardening, attending music performances, mission trips and investing time in the lives of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

George’s legacy is his example of faithfulness, love and commitment to God and his commitment to love and encourage each of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to know God and follow Him throughout their lives. He was loved and will be greatly missed by them all.

George was preceded in death by his first wife, Wilda; parents Murrel and Lorna Burtchett; sisters Charlotte Monroe and Lorna Gray; step-daughter Shelli Fulbright; step-grandson Riley McClurg; step-great-grandaughter Elisabeth Shreeve.

George is survived by his wife Kathy; daughter Robin (Robert) Brooks of Lawrence, Kansas and their children Melissa (Michael) Ingalls, Eli (Elisa) Brooks, Jessica (Cooper) Wilson, Ezra (Daniele) Brooks, Seth (Ann) Brooks, and Joy Brooks; son Mark (Cammy) Burtchett of Arcata and their children Danielle Hinrichs, Brady (Jennifer) Burtchett, and Brice(Katelyn) Burtchett; daughter Beth (Kevin) Yokoyama of Eureka and their children Brianne (Levi) Gill, Bethany (Kyle) Bankston, Jonathan Yokoyama and Hannah Yokoyama; son Brian (Kaycie) Burtchett of Vancouver, B.C. and their children Kyle (Stephanie) Burtchett, Jordan Burtchett, Alisha Burtchett, Chelsey Burtchett and Mikayla Burtchett; step-daughter Cori (Keith) Borges of Fortuna, and their children Clarissa Borges and Gillian Borges; step-daughter Ariel Gaultier of Vashon Island, Washington and son Garrett Hudson; step-daughter Hillary (Scott) McClurg of Redding and their children Paige McClurg and Nolan McClurg; step-grandson Dustan (Mercedes) Fulbright and step-granddaughter Brandi Nicol-Fulbright; and 32 great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on September 30, at 1 p.m. at Faith Center Foursquare Church, 1032 Bay Street, Eureka. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of George can be made to Wycliffe Bible Translators, the Eureka Rescue Mission or Faith Center Church (memo: Missions Fund).

Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Ayres Family Cremation in Eureka.