George Corey

BARRE CITY - George "Pudge" Deep Corey passed, of natural causes, to a better place on Feb. 27, 2018, in his home in Barre, Vermont. He missed his 83rd birthday by a week. He was born in Barre, on March 5, 1935. His parents, Deep and Esther (Schnueke) Corey, were owners of the convenience store on Maple Avenue in Barre and owned a home in the same area. During his lifetime, he was a resident of Media, Pennsylvania, and the state of New Jersey, as well as Vermont.
There were seven children born to Deep and Ester; George was the first to pass of the seven. George enjoyed learning and was a good student. As a matter of fact, he never stopped learning and enjoyed the sciences, in particular. He helped take care of the other children when their mother was battling with a health issue and was hospitalized for a time. One of his brothers said he was a great "Mom."
He was married and later divorced from Marie Theresa Pekar and had three children while in this marriage. Although his children moved to southern California, George was always involved in their lives and interested in having long conversations with them on the phone. When we were young, he would make ice skating rinks in the backyard, teach us archery and discipline us when needed.
Middlebury was George's alma mater and he played football his first year there. He graduated with a BS degree in chemistry and later went to Penn State for his master's in the same discipline.
Careers for George were in the teaching field and he supported the school where he taught in the position of football coach (and once had his foot stepped on by a player and his foot was broken) and a girls tennis coach for many years.
He was an accomplished clarinet player and tennis player. His passion for tennis encouraged his daughters to pursue the game and join teams at their local high schools. George enjoyed eating out and would sit at the same table for every visit to a particular restaurant and most of the time, ordered the same food. He enjoyed talking with the owners and workers and they enjoyed seeing him show up yet again. When people of interest in the community were told of his passing, their reaction was always, "Oh, George, he was such a nice man, we will miss seeing him." He made friends with everyone wherever he was and was always willing to help others even at the cost of his own well-being.
George once ran for state senate and lost by only 400 votes to the incumbent. He was a conservative and voiced his concerns many times over abortion and the rights of the unborn.
One of the sayings that George would often say is when someone said, "Well, well, well," his response would be, "3 holes in the ground" and then he would laugh. He loved to smile and laugh! When he would hang up on a conversation, he would always say, "Take it easy." He was known for his phone conversations with his siblings and his daughters and friends. You could always count on a call from Dad/George.
George was a devote Catholic/Christian and went to Saint Monica's for many years. Whenever he was on vacation, he would make sure to find a place of worship to go to during the week and on the weekend. He read his Bible and followed God's way for most of his life.
George is survived by three children, Laurene Grigory (Yorba Linda, California), Caryn Doyle (Mission Viejo, California) and Donna Haragan (San Diego, California); 10 grandchildren, one great-grandchild; and six siblings: Garland, Gardner, Geoffrey, Edward, Helen and Patricia.
George was predeceased by his parents, Deep and Esther Corey, of Barre.
There will be no calling hours.
The service for George to honor and celebrate his life will be held on Tuesday, May 29, 2018, at 11 a.m. at Saint Monica's Catholic Church, 79 Summer St., Barre, VT. The Rev. Peter O'Leary will preside over the service. George's ashes will be buried at his father's site in Hope Cemetery directly after the service.
Donations to the Deep Corey Scholarship fund would be appreciated in lieu of flowers.
Thank you to all who will be in attendance, your presence means so much.
George Deep Corey - A man who revered God, loved God's people and marveled at God's creation.
Arrangements are in the care of the Pruneau-Polli Funeral Home, 58 Summer St., Barre, VT.
Those wishing to express online condolences may do so at www.pruneaupollifuneralhome.com.