George Gaylord Florence was born July 29, 1941, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Our dad, also known as Uncle George, Mr. Florence, Brother Florence, and many other names, his most favorite of which being Grandpa Buddy, left this mortal life on July 10, 2023, at the age of 81. George was the tenth of fifteen children, born to Wilmer Henry and Mabel May Wilkinson Florence, the first of their children born in a hospital. George was raised in East Millcreek, Salt Lake City, Utah where he attended Elementary and Junior High School and graduated from Olympus High School in 1959. After graduation, he served a full time, 2-year mission in the Canadian mission. He loved his experience serving as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He attended many annual missionary reunions, always looking forward to reuniting with former companions and his Mission President, Thomas S. Monson. After his mission, he joined the Army National Guard, and while stationed in Seaside, California, he met a pretty red-head girl serving as Chorister, in the Fort Ord LDS church service. They dated mostly long distance and on May 14, 1964, he married Lynne Florence Pifat. They were sealed together in the Salt Lake City, LDS Temple and he referred to her sweetly as "my bride" for the rest of his life. From their union came five children: Heidi, Holly, Randy, Aaron and Melissa, followed by 18 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. Shortly after they married, George accepted a job at the Idaho Department Store in Caldwell, Idaho, so in 1966, they packed up and moved from Seaside, California to Idaho. He worked in sales for many years and before starting his own cleaning business, Mr. Maid. In 1979, he was offered a position with Caldwell High School, as a vocational education teacher. At last, he found his true calling, teaching. As a teacher, he influenced the lives of many students over his 26 years at Caldwell and Vallivue High Schools. George was an impassioned educator in all aspects, not just in the classroom. If one was willing to learn, and was willing to follow rules, he was willing and wanting to teach them; he even taught the importance of being teachable. He taught that details matter, and that a hard days work and a job well done, was worth the effort. He taught that there are actions to show love, by serving. He was always ready to help and serve. With much of his time spent serving others, including his bride's every building or remodeling whim, he didn't spend a lot of time on recreational activities but, he was always up for a game of chess, horseshoes, fishing, golf and an annual trip to Lake Powell with his brothers. George served faithfully in many church callings over the years, and shortly after retiring, he and his bride were suddenly prompted to serve as senior missionaries for the LDS church. They set off for an 18-month mission, serving at the Polynesian Cultural Center and BYU Hawaii student ward, in Laie, Hawaii, where he once again taught, mentored, and served, working in the motor pool and grounds maintenance support, caring for anything that ran on gas, or anything that was used to maintain the beautiful grounds at the center. While serving in Hawaii, dad had an immediate connection to the culture and the Polynesian people. He and his bride returned several times after their mission to visit and reconnect with the amazing people they served with. Another cherished church calling was serving as a temple worker in the Boise and Meridian, Idaho LDS Temples for many years. Other missionary callings included a year serving in the church Pathway program, supporting adults in their efforts to further their own education. George had a joke for every occasion or interaction. If a conversation with him didn't begin with him telling a joke, it would most certainly end with one. His other signature talents included his Donald Duck and donkey impressions, and a fortunate few were favored by his imitation of a train on the harmonica. George had a way of turning pretty much any situation into a teaching moment, a trait that he received from his own mother, and which has rubbed off on much of his posterity. George Florence loved the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and was a true disciple. He wasn't perfect but he was obedient. He spoke of sacred things with reverence. He shared his testimony through word and deed. He felt it a true honor to be a holder of the restored priesthood. He was never shy about telling someone of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the joy it would bring, with the power to impact their life. He blessed us with his love and with his time and we will forever cherish the time we had with this sweet man. George leaves behind his beautiful wife Lynne, of 59 years; Heidi of Meridian, Idaho; Holly (Marion), of Fruitland, Idaho; Aaron (Christy) of Estes Park, Colorado; and Melissa (Nick) of Fruitland, Idaho; 18 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren; and siblings: Gene, Claudia, Larry, Marian, Martha, and Kathleen. He is preceded in death by his first-born son, Randy; his parents; and his siblings: Betty, Lewis, Merlin, Edith, Lila, Val, Tom, David. As a family, we would like to thank all the health care specialists at St Luke's MSTI and Hospice, who extended a kind and helping hand to our father. George's funeral services will be held Saturday, July 15, 2023, at 10:00 am in the Linden Stake Center located at 11792 Linden Rd, Caldwell, ID. A viewing will be held Friday, July 14, 2023, from 5:30-7:30 pm at the same address, and also prior to service at the church from 9:00-9:45 am. Interment will follow at Canyon Hill Cemetery. Condolences for the family may be expressed at zeyerfuneralchapel.com Here's the link for the funeral service on Saturday: Topic: George Florence Funeral Time: Saturday July 15th 10:00 am Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/93952440605?pwd=Z2IydFdwN1ovRkwraFhiOUJsKzRmQT09 Meeting ID: 939 5244 0605 Passcode: funeral
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