George Francis Paley

George Francis Paley was born December 19, 1948 in Sharon, CT the first child of Morris and Emma (Carberry) Paley. He grew up working on the family dairy farm and helped raise his seven siblings. He passed away Sunday, January 10, 2016, surrounded by family at his home in Lawrence. He will be laid in the ground in a private Bahá’í ceremony, according to his wishes.

He graduated with honors with a BA in Communications in Radio-Television-Film from the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin.

George was an artist, musician, entrepreneur and collector. He loved to travel, to experience new places and people, to play piano and to ride his vintage motorcycles with friends and family. George visited Mexico and Central America, Europe, Russia, Indonesia, Cuba, Vietnam, Thailand, and other countries on his business and personal travels.

George was active in the Lawrence art scene as a sculptor and patron, and helped launch the Warehouse Arts District and Lawrence Creates Makerspace. He contributed to the development of small businesses downtown.

He married Judy Gerling on July 24, 1976 in Sharon, CT.

George left behind wife Judy G. Paley, Lawrence, KS; mom Emma Paley, Sharon, CT; Dalton Paley, Lawrence, KS; Austin Paley, Sarah Gibbins-Paley, and grandchildren Wyatt Paley and Aesa Paley, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; C. Max Paley, Denver, CO; and dog Gus and barn cat Levon II, Lawrence, KS. Joining him at the Great Gig in the Sky is brother Douglas Paley and father Morris Paley.

To read more on George’s life, please see Chad Lawhorn’s article “The two minds of George Paley” in the Lawrence Journal World, April 13, 2014. HYPERLINK http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2014/apr/13/lawhorns-lawrence-two-minds-george-paley/

A casual party for George, 67, Lawrence will be held from 4 – 8 p.m. Sunday, January 17, 2016 at the Cider Gallery in Lawrence.

Memorial donations may be made in his name to KU Endowment in support of the Department of Visual Art (06257) Sculpture Program or to the Lawrence Memorial Hospital Oncology Center, and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary.