Cyril J. St. George
December 10, 1913 - March 8, 2005
Obituary
CYRIL J. ST. GEORGE
Age 91. Cyril Cy passed away March 8, 2005, at Wesley Care Center Nursing Home in Des Moines, WA. He was born as Cyril John Henry Howard St. George on December 10, 1913 to Howard and Amy St.George at 3300 Sycamore Street in Milwaukee, WI. At age 10, his parents moved their family to a suburb of Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, where he continued in school. At age 19, in 1931, Cyril rode a freight train to Seattle. He got a map at the Seattle train station to help him determine where he could find a job on the West Coast. He initially worked as a process server for the Los Angeles County Courthouse and then accepted a job as a mechanic in a Hollywood CA motorcycle garage. He worked there until the mid-1930’s when he began a brief career as the driver and mechanic for a famous movie star, reportedly Cary Grant. He then went back to Milwaukee and worked there as a mechanic until he enlisted in the Army in April 1941. He served in North Carolina and at Seattle Boeing Field in the Barrage Balloon Battalion. Due to his extensive auto mechanic background, he was later placed in charge of the motor pool and promoted to Sergeant.
One day while having coffee in a restaurant in Georgetown WA, in south Seattle, he met the love of his life, Louise Hanson. Soon, Cyril was part of the Hanson family. Cyril married Louise in 1950. They had a son in 1951, Barry J. St. George. Louise preceded Cyril in death on January 9, 1990.
After WWII, Cyril received his Honorable Discharge from the Army. However, it was not long before a Navy Admiral, who had known of his mechanical skills, asked him to accept a civilian position as a planner and estimator for heavy equipment for the US Navy at Seattle Pier 91. After that facility was closed, he relocated to a similar position at Sand Point Naval Air Station. He retired from his civilian job as a supervisor at Sand Point in 1984 at age 70. He continued to be a active member of the Pier 91 Naval Reunion Group for many years. He became caretaker of several of their treasured scrapbooks. He donated those reunion scrapbooks in 2002 to the Puget Sound Naval Museum in Bremerton for future generations to review and enjoy.
Cyril was a man of many talents. He and his son, Barry, built several homes in the Burien Area, while he was working full time. Also, he and Louise became fulltime caregivers for their parents, who had eventually moved in with them at their home in Burien to live out the last years of their lives. Louise also showed great strength nursing Cyril back to good health after several severe strokes.
Cyril was active in the Burien Community, since the early 1940’s, due to his close relationship with Louise and the Hanson family. He participated with his son, Barry, as a leader in Cub Scout Pack 452 at Chelsea Park Elementary School and at Boy Scout Troop 352. Both he and Louise were long-time active members at St. Elizabeth Episcopal Church in Burien. Due to his lengthy involvement in the church activities, he was awarded the Parish Cross in 1999. He was most proud of being robed as Saint Nicholas during the Christmas services each year.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and his brother Reginald St. George of Chico CA. Cyril is survived by his son Barry J. St. George wife Deborah of Eagle Creek OR; three grandchildren Erin St. George of Valparaiso IN, Shai Smith of Eagle Creek OR, and Brent Smith of Wilsonville OR; three great-grandchildren Nicole Smith, Makala Smith, and Kloe Smith of Wilsonville OR; his sister Dorothy Bliesner of Milwaukee WI; as well as numerous nephews and nieces.
A Funeral Service will be held at 11a.m. on Saturday, 3/12/05, at St. Elizabeth’s Church, 1005 SW 152nd Street in Burien WA. The burial will follow at Crown Hill Cemetery at 8712 Twelfth Avenue NW in Seattle WA. Memorials in Cyril’s name may be made to St. Elizabeth’s Church, Seattle Union Gospel Mission, or your favorite charity. Arrangements are under the direction of the Bonney-Watson Parker Funeral Home in Burien. Please sign the online memorial book at www.bonneywatson.com.