GEORGE A. GRIES passed away on Nov. 11, 2009.

Born to John M. and Ethel Goff Gries on May 2, 1917, Cambridge, Mass., George spent the winters of his youth in Washington, D.C. and summers at the family farm in Ohio.

He met the love of his life, Mary Lou Carpenter, while an undergraduate at Miami University and married her in 1939 in Wichita, Kan. where he was completing his Masters degree.

The Gries then moved to Madison, Wis., where George earned his Ph.D. During the ‘40s and ‘50s, George was a professor of plant pathology and botany at the Connecticut Experimental Station, Purdue University and the University of Wales, Swansea, UK.

He and Mary Lou moved to Tucson in 1960, where he headed up the UA’s Plant Pathology Department. George also served as Acting Head of Botany and Head of the Department of Bio. Sciences at UA.

In the late ‘60s, George accepted the position of Dean of Arts & Sciences, Oklahoma State University.

George and Mary Lou retired to Green Valley in 1982. Retirement did nothing to slow George down. He volunteered for his HOA, the local student mentoring program and the Green Valley Gardeners.

In 1999, the Gardeners of America presented him with the Johnny Appleseed Award for his efforts in helping to plan and establish the Arid Garden on Camino Encanto.

George will be best remembered for his boundless celebration of educating youth. An enthusiastic supporter of the Boy Scouts, he volunteered as a troop and regional leader for many years.

George lovingly cared for his beloved Mary Lou throughout the last 10 years of her life. She preceded him in death in 2006.

He is survived by two children, James C. Gries of San Francisco, Calif. and Judylynn Gries, Green Valley; as well as numerous nephews and nieces.

He and Mary Lou established George A. and Mary Lou Gries Scholarship Funds at both Miami University (Oxford, OH) and Oklahoma State University (Stillwater, OK). Remembrances may be made to either of these scholarships.

There will be no services.

A life well lived.