George Creighton

George Lee Creighton, 85, of Westcliffe, CO, passed away on Friday, September 1, 2023. He will forever be remembered as a devoted husband, loving father, grandpa, and friend to everyone he knew.

George was born in McKeesport, PA, on February 17^th, 1938. As a boy growing up in Irwin, PA, George wanted to be a forest ranger, a state policeman, or a teacher. He credits his 4^th grade teacher as introducing him to the love of the natural world and the wonder of birding. He kept a bird watching list for the rest of his life. He graduated from Irwin Public School (Class of 1956) and attended Tarkio College in Tarkio, MO, on a football-basketball scholarship where he earned his bachelor’s degree in biology. He received a National Science Foundation grant to attend Kansas State University and Emporia State University, where he then earned his master’s in biology.

George attained one of his childhood goals by accepting a teaching job. He worked as a science teacher at various schools, including in Kansas and at a private boarding school in Concord, MA. He spent most of his career in Olathe, Kansas, as a high school science teacher and later as the District Science Coordinator. He was delighted to receive the Outstanding Biology Teacher Award from the state of Kansas in 1985. He retired in 1996.

George pursued a second childhood goal by working as a Park Ranger/Naturalist for 16 summers, serving in Acadia National Park in Maine, Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah, and Pecos National Monument in New Mexico. He loved sharing his passion for the outdoors and science, making it accessible to everyone.

He met his soul mate, Carolyn Ann Wyckoff, at Tarkio College. Carolyn credited his ability and willingness to dance as the reason they dated. They were married on March 4^th, 1960, in St. Joseph, MO. Together they raised their three children, Leslie, Curtis, and Laura. They were married for over 60 years.

George involved himself in many activities. He was an avid runner, ran three marathons and coached cross country. He loved birding and recorded 536 bird species on his life list. He and Carolyn travelled to 22 different countries and visited all 50 states. He hiked for many years in the Colorado mountains and climbed sixteen 14ers. He was an active member of rotary for many years and an involved member of the Community Methodist church.

George is preceded in death by his parents and his older brother Dan. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years Carolyn (Wyckoff) Creighton, children: Leslie Christoffersen and her husband Carl, Curtis Creighton and his wife Alison, Laura McFadden and her husband Joel. Left behind to cherish his memory and swap funny stories of George’s practical jokes are his eight grandchildren: Lauren Corp, Stephen Christoffersen, Cara Porter, Ashley Bailey, Kaylynn Creighton, Mykaela Tilly, Matthew Creighton and Emma McFadden and nine great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Phil, his brother Doug, his sister Sally and many nieces and nephews. He will be sadly missed.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Community United Methodist Church, Box 507, Westcliffe, CO 81252 https://www.cumcwestcliffe.org, and/or The Wet Mountain Valley Community Foundation https://www.wmvcf.org/donations/