George William Durkee was born June 29, 1921 to Eva May and Louie Edward Durkee in Spalding, Nebraska. He grew up in Norfolk, NE and Geddes, SD before moving to San Diego, CA. George chose to follow Christ at a Convention in York, NE as a teenager. He graduated San Diego High School in February 1940.

George enlisted in the Navy August 1942 and was sent to Norman, OK for his first assignment. One weekend in October 1942, he attended a church convention on a farm near Perry, OK. There, he met a young lady, Jessie Shelby, from Forrest, NM who had also traveled with family to that same gathering. Mr. Shelby gave George a ride back to base in the back of the pickup. Jessie rode in the pickup bed with him. A few letters were exchanged between George and Jessie and they married on June 12, 1943 in Oklahoma City at the Office of the Justice of the Peace. After 18 months in Oklahoma, they went by train to Key West, FL. where he was based until discharged from the Navy November 1945 when they moved to San Diego, CA.

George worked at General Dynamics/Convair for 39 years as a Tool & Operation Planner. His projects started on the Convair 220's and 440's continued with the B-24's, L-1011's, Atlas Centaur Missile, and he retired working on the Tomahawk Cruise Missile and Space Shuttle.

George and Jessie had a church meeting in their home for 40 years in Lemon Grove, CA. They moved to Sanger, TX in August 2007, where they lived for 5 years. His last years were spent in Denton, TX.

George is survived by his wife of over 73 years, Jessie Durkee, three children, Eva Marie Durkee of Chula Vista, CA, Duane and Barb Durkee of Helena, MT and Darryl and Goldie Durkee of Sanger, TX. He has three grandchildren: Shannon Durkee of Boise, ID, Shaun and Emily Durkee of Bozeman, MT, and Jason Durkee of Sanger, TX. He has two great-grandchildren, Lila and Forrest Durkee and nieces, Ruth Clark, Dee Davis and Edie Purvis and a host of friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents and sister Daisy Rowand.

Visitation will be Friday March 10, 2017 from 6-8 P.M. Funeral Service will be Saturday March 11, 2017 at 11:00 A.M. all at DeBerry Funeral Directors in Denton, TX. He will be interred at the D.F.W. National Cemetery.