George Dedrick Searcy
May 21st, 2019
George was born in Spirit River, Alberta. He was the fifth of six children born to Edwin Searcy and Alta Parsenau. He grew up in Pouce Coupe, BC and Berwyn, Alberta where his family operated power plants that provided electricity for the community. A child of the prairies he often said of life in BC that the mountains get in the way of the view.
George’s life took a turn when his sister Alleen married the Rev. Bob McLaren. He followed them to Naramata, BC where they were establishing the Christian Leadership Training School. George completed grade twelve at Penticton High and then enrolled in the second Winter Session at CLTS. It was there that he experienced a call to ministry in The United Church of Canada.
In the summer of 1952 George was serving as Boy’s Work Assistant for the BC Conference. This included being Director at Cultus Lake Camp. There he met Mary Anne McWilliams who was the life guard and swimming instructor. They were married in 1953. When Anne died in 2017 they had celebrated their sixty-third wedding anniversary.
George graduated from UBC with a Bachelor of Arts and from Union College with a Bachelor of Divinity. In 1957 he was ordained as a minister of the United Church. He and Anne worked together as partners serving congregations in Lillooet and Pemberton, Oliver, Osoyoos and Okanagan Falls followed by West Burnaby, Shaughnessy Heights, Collingwood and Dunbar Heights.
George and Anne also partnered in raising their family – Ed born in Penticton, Kathy born in Lillooet and David born in Oliver. Wendy with Ed and Naryn with Dave added more blessings to their family. George was grand-father to six (Matthew, Joel, Adrianne, Anneke, Taslyn and Stephen) and great-grandfather to nine (Madison, Hannah, Nathaniel, Naomi, Emily, Bennett, Baiet, Jacob and Olen). He was also Uncle George to oh so many nephews and nieces. George was proud of the brood and loved to see them coming through the door.
In his thirty-six years of service as an ordained minister George was involved in many different aspects of church life. He was a commissioner to seven General Councils and a member of the General Council Executive as well as being elected President of BC Conference. George chaired and was a member of a wide range of Presbytery, Conference and National committees. However, his primary focus was the daily life of a congregational minister – pastoral visiting, worship and preaching, leading Bible study and facilitating lay ministry.
George’s parents immigrated to Canada from the United States. His father, Ted, came from Oklahoma and his mother, Alta, left Minnesota in a covered wagon. His American roots were not far from the surface. He had a fascination with American history and, in particular, the Civil War. George was always keen to discuss politics and kept abreast of current events throughout his life.
In retirement George and Anne settled into their home at Crescent Beach on the property that Anne’s parents had purchased many years before. There they became active members of Crescent United Church. After Anne’s death George continued to live in their home until he was hospitalized a month before his passing. George died peacefully on May 21, 2019. We are grateful for the care he has received from Dr. Charles King and Dr. Michael O’Brien as well as the nurses and doctors at Peace Arch Hospital.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, July 13th at 2:00 pm at Peninsula United Church (Crescent site – 2756 127th Street, Surrey, BC). In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the charity of your choice.
You are invited to leave a personal message of condolence for the family.
Messages:
Ed, Cathy, David. I grieve with you, too, at George’s death. It is like closing yet another chapter of BC United church history. I met your family just after Glen and I married and you have always been part of our extended church life. Your Mom and Dad were always a supportive thread that wove in and out of our lives through many years. Please know my heart is with all of you. Coast and family needs will prevent me from being with you in person. Blessings as you say goodbye to a lovely man. Peace as you know he and Anne are united once more.
Ed, Kathy and David- Sorry to hear that George has passed away. He was the minister in Lillooet when we arrived in Lillooet in 1957. Tried to keep in contact with Anne and George every time we went to the coast. He loved to hear all about Lillooet and the people here. We would loved to come down for his service but we are unable. All the best to the family and we will be thinking of you.
I met George and Ann during the summer of 1958, while spark-chasing on the PGE railway out of Pemberton. Bob Wallace suggested I talk to George about ministry. The rest is history. Sorry we are not able to join you at the Celebration but hold all the family in our thoughts and prayers. A special Clown hug for Kathy!
George Searcy from Jim Manly I have been proud to call George Searcy a friend since the early 1950s when we were both residents at Union College. As I recall, George and I first met in a phys.ed.100 class at UBC. At the time he was a year ahead of me but, after marrying Anne, he took a year out, and so we were in the same year and shared many of the same classes at Union and Anglican College. In my opinion George Searcy represented the best elements of the United Church of Canada. He was a good scholar and preacher, concerned about others and an able administrator. Proud of his family, he was open and friendly with a good sense of humour. He used these gifts in the service of the Church as he sought to walk in the way of Christ. Thanks be to God.
Oh Ed, I'm so sorry to hear that your father has died. I offer my deepest condolences and send you love. I will be holding you and your family in my prayers. Caroline
Ed, my deep sympathy to you and your family; even when a death is "expected" at the end of a rich and long life, the heart carries its own grief. I have many memories of your Dad, and of your Mum, from the years spent at Conference Office. I enjoyed George's humour and appreciated his experience and wisdom. I remember when I left Conference employment, there was a gathering of appreciation, and George gave me a book of prayers that remains on my bookshelf, and still gets used -- Seasons of Mercy by Diane Karpay... it was such a thoughtful gift as I transitioned back into congregational ministry at First United. Giving thanks for the life and the ministry of George.
Searcy Family--deepest sympathy on the passing of my cousin George. I am the son of Robert Lawson Searcy ,Moose Jaw ,Sask. May your memories keep you warm with love of Anne and George. Rest in peace together ,Anne and George.
Your mom and dad were truly a blessing! It was a privilege to touch lives with them. I know you have many wonderful memories to cherish! May God's love surround you and yours during these coming days and weeks, Ed.
I am so sorry Ed to hear what happened to your Dad He must have been so proud of you, Youve been a good and caring pastor. Hang in there. I know you will miss him. I still miss Mom. Give a call if you need to. All the best Sincerely, Ann-Marie
We give thanks for George's life and ministry. My mother, Ruth Dalgarno, nee VanZandt, was at the Christian Leadership Training School at the same time as George, and remembered him fondly. God bless and keep you all as you mark George's life and death, and the hope in which both are rooted.
A minister once told me that one of his teachers had said "it was better to be teached than preached" That epomized George's sermons. I still have copies of George's sermons from the 1970's that are as relevant today as there were then. We were blessed to be at Dunbar Heights when George and Anne were there.
I can hear our LORD singing, welcome home George, welcome home.
Ed, I send you and all your family my condolences. I will fondly remember the twinkle in your dad’s eyes, his sense of humor and his gracious ways. Hearing from those I have met, he was a much beloved minister - as are you having not fallen far from that tree! May George rest in peace, and may you, Kathy and David find peace and comfort for yourselves in the days ahead.
I knew and enjoyed both Anne and George. I was at VST when George came back to study esp. under Lloyd Gaston. He had a tremendous sense of humour. We had something in common that we both had lived in the Peace River Country. After I told him that I spent my first wedding night in the Pouce Coupe Hotel, he never forgot it and would remind me of it when we met. He and Anne both contributed greatly to our church. May God bless you as the two of you reunite.
George enriched the Searcy gatherings we attended with his joyful presence, kind listening ear and genuine care for everyone present. We will miss him.
All the wonderful Searcys who came to me as family - as uncles and aunts - brought a calm understanding of the joys due children. And they all nurtured us. I remember my uncle George so fondly. The smile, the laughter. To me he was a joyful, kind and gentle soul.
My deepest sympathy to the Searcy family. May your father, grandfather and great grandfather, Reverend George Searcy, rest in peace. My family attended West Burnaby United Church when we were children and Kathy was my friend at Chaffey-Burke Elementary School. I was very sad when the Searcy family moved on from West Burnaby. Many years later, on February 18, 1984, Ed officiated at the wedding of my sister and brother-in-law, Susan and Bruce Davis, at Crescent United. Over twenty years later, I met Joel when he arrived at Enver Creek Secondary School, when he was starting his teaching practicum. What a pleasure to meet another member of the Searcy family. Joel, I now work with Sandra Bibby, who lives in Crescent Beach and attended Crescent United. I am very sorry I will not be able to attend the service, as we have a family wedding to attend. May the service be a wonderful and memorable gathering of family and friends. Best regards, Leona (Hansen) Waterhouse.