George Riekers

George Riekers 3rd George passed away on March 22, 2025. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on June 19, 1943 to George & Evelyn Riekers Jr. He grew up in Springfield Gardens, Queens, N.Y. and attended P.S. 37, Junior High 59 and Andrew Jackson High School. He was a Boy Scout and sang in the Youth Choir at the First Presbyterian Church. George was a Past Master Councilor of DeMolay, and the first Commander of the Sgt. P. Prince Post Sons of the VFW in Brooklyn, N.Y. He played the drums in his church and the V.F.W. marching bands. He moved to Jacksonville Beach, Fla. In 1970. And was a bartender at a boardwalk bar. He met his life partner Jim Godfrey in 1972 and moved to Atlanta, Ga. He became the manager of the lounge at the Sheraton Emory Inn on the Emory University Campus. 

In December of 1979 He & Jim visited friends in Rockport, TX and just fell in love with Rockport. They rented a building and returned to Georgia and sold their home and other properties and moved to Rockport in March 1980. They then opened the Treasure Chest furniture refinishing shop on S. Church St. They purchased their home in 1981 and immediately started getting involved in the community. George got involved with Rockport Sea Fair in 1983 and had been ever since. He also worked the Art Festival for over 15 years. He & Jim helped form South Rockport Neighbors in 1995 and were active in it ever since. He came up with the idea of a Christmas Parade for Rockport and with some help, put on the first one and did so every year until the city took it over to do a night-time illuminated parade. George was very giving, donating to many charities, some of his favorites were Shriners Children's, & St. Jude's Hospitals, Boy's Town and the V.F.W. National Home. He was also a big donor to Alzheimer's & Autism . George received the Corpus Christi Caller Times Jefferson Award for his community volunteerism. George would sometimes come home from the Walmart with a brand new bicycle for a needy kid in the neighborhood. George loved the Rockport area and everyone in it.

After Hurricane Harvey hit Rockport He and Jim received hundreds of dollars in gift cards from friends and family up North. They felt so blessed because they received so little damage to their home that they gave all the gift cards away. George was preceded by his mother & father and leaves to cherish his memory his life partner of 52 years, Jim Godfrey, brothers, Charlie (Cynthia) Riekers of Wake Forest, N.C. and Richard (Eileen) Riekers of Broad Channel, N.Y. two nephews and four nieces, 1 Great niece ,5 Great Nephews, lots of cousins and a host of friends. He will be missed greatly.