George W. McIlvaine

George W. McIlvaine, of Cheyenne, formerly of Saratoga, passed away Oct. 3, 2015 at Davis Hospice Center after the sudden onset of a neuro-degenerative disease. He was born July 21, 1939 in Gunnison, Colo. to Charles W. and Ruth McIlvaine.

The family moved to Saratoga, Wyo. when George was in the seventh grade and he graduated from Platte Valley High School. He graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1961 with a BS in Business. He was commissioned an officer in the US Army upon graduation and served in Korea and at Fort Carson, Colo. He and Mary Gould, also of Saratoga, were married Feb. 17, l962. They enjoyed 53 years together and are the parents of Mark and Anne Marie and the grandparents of Emily and Jordan. They greatly enjoyed time at their cabin on Brush Creek in the Snowy Range.

George was president of two banks – First National of Rawlins and Saratoga State Bank. The family moved to Cheyenne in 1986 and George became an investment advisor and financial planner. Rotary was a big part of his life. He was the District Rotarian of the Year in 2002-2003 and the Cheyenne Rotarian of the Year in 2010. He served as District Governor in 2006-2007, made three trips to Russia to assist with Rotary projects and served on numerous local and district committees. One of his favorite things was to introduce a new Rotary member.

George was dedicated to serving Laramie County Community College. He loved just walking around the campus and visiting. He served on the LCCC Board of Trustees and was currently the President of the LCCC Foundation. Education was very important to him and he surprised his wife by endowing a nursing scholarship in her name. For 16 years he read weekly to the students at Bain Elementary School.

George also served on the boards of the Cheyenne Schools Foundation, Meals on Wheels Foundation, Cheyenne Animal Shelter Foundation and the Wyoming Community Foundation. He enjoyed solving world problems with his "Brain Trust" lunch friends. He was a member of Young Mens Literary Club and was gathering information for a paper at the time of his death.

George is survived by his wife, Mary; children Mark and Anne Marie; granddaughters Emily and Jordan – all of Cheyenne and his sister Ginger McIlvaine of Lakewood, Colo. Also surviving are numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Memorials in his name may be made to the Cheyenne Rotary Foundation or Laramie County Community College Foundation for a scholarship in his name.