David Alan George

David Alan George, Age 56, a lifelong resident of Olathe, KS passed away Tuesday evening May 7, 2024, at his home after an 18+ month battle with Esophageal Cancer. As deaths from this horrible disease go, David’s was a good death–surrounded by family, connected to those away at school with the gift of technology, and guarded fearlessly by his two fur babies, Maisy and Deuce (“Vaughn-sense George”- sporting All Purple. Always.). David was born in Olathe, KS on September 19, 1967, where he was a lifelong resident. He was the baby of 12 kids and membership in this big family truly having its privileges! There was an entire dresser dedicated solely to unmated socks (yep, solely—I went there!), an industrial water fountain in the hall, a female cat named Herman, and the coolest picture of Jesus you’d ever want to see. Dave received lots of drive-by head rubs, tagged along on ice cream and drive-in dates with older sisters. As a youngster, he was the subject of a college photography project where he might just have been asked to stick his finger up his nose for the camera. Quickly, the page turned, and it was on to GI Joe’s, backyard clubhouse shenanigans with school chums, listening to the Dr. Dimento show and classic 70s comedians after lights out with brother Paul. Clearly destined for great fun and happiness coming from this home, Dave goes on to graduate from the original Aquinas High School in 1986 (Fire Up, Blue Babe!). There were a couple years of daily and memorable bus rides into Shawnee with fellow St. Paul’s Crusaders! Never one to part with much, many of those grade-schoolers remained close friends through adulthood. Dave takes a risk asking a Shawnee classmate, Julie Donovan, to JR prom and thus begins to write the official opening chapter of a nearly 40-year love and laughter story between the two. She fully admits, his playing football, making super odd sculptures in Art Class (still on display in his home office), acting in the school play ‘Heaven Can Wait’, and driving his sweet silver LTD II, all played into Dave’s early charm and ultimately winning her over. Our chapters were quickly and creatively being written. As to college, Dave took a less conventional path to earning his bachelor’s degree – working in Olathe, while attending JCCC for the first two years, then transferring to his beloved Kansas State University (Go CATS!). He continued working some weekends in KC and visiting Julie at Benedictine on others. Initially, pursuing a degree in Architecture, Dave clocked tons of hours in the Architecture studio, and further solidified his true night owl status. He somehow found time to convert a late 1960s VW van into a KSU “Magic Bus” for tailgating with two close buddies. He eventually opted for a Business Administration degree and always wore his purple proudly. He said often, “My time at KSU was the best FIVE years of my life,” laughing! After graduation, Dave continued to work for his older brother Chris at his business, Chris George Homes (CGH), where he learned extensively about home building and the real estate business. After a decade with CGH, David had a new real estate license in tow and ventured out on his own. He developed a successful 25+ year career as a licensed KS and MO realtor. He initially sported the Harvest Gold and Brown of Century 21 under the tutelage of his respected broker, mentor, and friend Anthony J. “Tony” Lang. He most recently worked for Platinum Reality and conducted business up through May 2024, choosing to work only with close friends and family at the end of his career. The biggest contract of his life was signed on November 6, 1993. After a two-year engagement and a full starter-home renovation, Julie and David tied the knot, throwing a legendary, super-fun wedding. They returned from their honeymoon to quickly start growing their family by adopting a fur baby pup found on a grade school chum’s farm in Osawatomie. She would be called Jasmine and loved to lick their freshly painted walls. Otis, an adoptee from friends, would attempt to join later, but ended up being too big for their tiny house and for tiny Julie. Later, after Dave’s parents passed, came their ‘fancy-pants’ dog (this is code, sibs), Teddy. Kids were not Job #1 for D&J, but when the switch flipped, it flipped. They welcomed Evan in 2000, Ethan in 2002 and “little Alex” in 2006, always with at least one dog there to lick them square in their baby faces! In retrospect, Dave and Julie wondered why they waited so long to have kids— never traveling much, didn’t really stop having weekend cocktails and finding these boys truly changed their world in the best of ways! Dave never stepped too far away from the hands-on work he’d done working for CGH. He renovated two of his own homes by this point and general-contracted the current family home built in 2005. Most recently, he began their first-floor renovation building Julie’s dream kitchen, starting in April, finding out about the cancer in June and completing the custom project in November. True Grit! Yet, the most meaningful project DG has done is the nursery where two of the three boys came home to their Lakeshore house. It featured custom bookshelves, a window seat with storage and box valances, a peaceful place you’d just want to hang out, baby or not. Dave made use of the sweet reclining rocking chair for more than one of his secret naps. In addition to personal properties, he bought and overhauled several investment properties with family members. Each property ended up with something uniquely Dave in it— floating shelves in a small kitchen, mudroom storage, custom bathroom tile work—things that made it better, more beautiful, special. One certainty, David was always ready to help. Always. Working with clients buying and selling houses, there were ample move-in days, clean-outs, and contracting projects. Friends and family were moving through life as Dave was. He readily took these projects on – giving manpower, time, whatever truck he had at the time and cheap labor, i.e., volunteering whomever of his three sons for whatever. They usually got free lunch out of the deal with a full helping of “This is character-building, and you should work every chance you get” speech. A betting man would say that this wasn’t much different than the one Dave himself heard from ‘his old man’ (Chris Sr.) when he was young. As to hobbies, right out of college, Dave enjoyed “Old Man Softball” playing on the Gazelles, the George family team, established back when David was in his teens. He would also play for many other teams. At one point, while an agent for Century 21, he sponsored and coached a team called “The Closers,” he wore #21. Given this was all BK—"before kids”—he even did a giggle-prompting newsletter about the week’s win/losses and team’s mishaps on the field and shenanigans in Blackbob parking lot. Mind you, this was 1990, around the birth of the internet and well before texting and Facebook. Not an easy project to put together, but David never let hurdles get in the way of a chance to socialize. He made the time and he and all those on the e-mail distro list, got true joy from his weekly efforts! He was delighted by the fact that thus far, his two oldest boys carry on the tradition of playing on the Gazelles’ team, hanging out after games with family and teammates in the same way he did. Here’s hoping Alex G picks up the bat and sports a Gazelle’s Uni near term to make it all three! Dave was a lifelong Chiefs and Royals fan, claiming them as his teams “Even when they were terrible.” He loved all things KSU and KSU tailgating. He told his boys that they could GO to KU, but HE just WOULD NOT CHEER for KU! He was a solid fan of our Olathe teams — ON Eagles, OS Falcons, CST Wildcats, Arbor Creek Otters. A couple, he would call, ‘lightning in a bottle.’ These baseball teams helped raise the George boys into men. Of course, there are some he couldn’t recall if he had to! All that mattered was if a George kid played on a team, he rooted for them and he got the ‘family truckster’ there, wherever there was. Most games could be revisited the following week via countless quality pictures. Dave, (“Yearbook”, as Julie calls him), took and sent volumes of content to players and parents after spending hours cropping and editing! Far from all business, he was known to share jokes, the post-game breakdown, and beers in the hotel tournament lobby bars with coaches and dads while Julie and the smaller kids hit the pool before closing. They closed a bar or two down. Good times had by all –so good, these out-of-town tourneys were counted as George family vacations for many years. “If you are not laughing, I am not having fun!” is one way Dave could be described. He loved practical jokes and being the “ham” of any group! Some notables: The “Meat Manger” brought to George Christmas because “Well, why not?” Attending Royals games at The K decked out in signature Dave George team gear: a white fuzzy dog mask, perfect for enjoying a ballpark beer – or more! This got him on the Jumbotron and on MLB Live! Also, many will cherish his “fake teeth” stage where he would take ANY opportunity to “get into character.” Or, as they said in The Incredibles, “monologue.” Apologies to Aaron and Sharon Baker who were surprised to see their “long lost cousin” had made it to the wedding and wanted to give a toast! Bigger apologies to those who thought he was a real guest! And let’s not forget his love of loud, goofy shirts. We’re not exactly sure where it started, but it took fire…once he had one, his boys were all in on growing Dad’s collection. A commitment Dave shared, and Amazon (and China) profited from. Dave was one of those people that has stayed connected with friends from every stage of his life—grade school through college to neighborhood; Some of his very best friends were people he met initially as “friend of a friend’ and grew those into strong direct friendships of his own. He was good at keeping up with calls and texts until close to the very end; always open to a guy’s trip; down to grab lunch; easy to convince to meet up at Austin’s (a little harder if KU was playing!). While keeping these connections is certainly much easier now than it was back in the days of his softball newsletter, it’s still to be commended – as all good things take time and nurturing! Dave truly did nurture his friendship garden! As to the formalities: David is preceeded in death by his remarkable parents Neva and Chris George, Sr. and by his beloved siblings Tim and Lori George, who were tragically lost very young. More recently, he lost the two brothers with whom he worked many years, Chris George Jr., and Michael George. These events instilled true cherishing of friends and family, and the appreciation of laughing and of making others laugh. He recently recalled reading an article about a struggling comedian, I cannot recall who, but his philosophy left an impression on DG. “Life is not a guarantee, getting a laugh isn’t either… Guess I’ll go for the laugh.” This resonated with him- it was the idea of enjoying the now, not trying to excessively worry about the future that you can’t control. David is survived by that AHS sweetheart and wife of 31 years, Julie (Donovan) George and their three adored sons, Evan, Ethan and Alexander George, all of the home. He is also survived by seven siblings – Daniel (Janni) George, Cathy (Gene) Fritz, Sharon (AJ II) Lang, Linda (Bill) McCoy, Margaret (Gerry) Diveney, Terry (Malhou) George, Paul George (Frank Cartolono) as well as two lovely ex sisters-in-law, still considered family – Steph Terrel (Dan) and Elizabeth George (Mike). The George family tree continues to add branches and with that, joy. David has over 25 nieces and nephews, and they, in turn, have over 30 children of their own. He also leaves behind his loving father-in-law of 31 years, Daniel Donovan, and Julie’s entire family, all of whom have truly lost a brother or an uncle in Dave: Steve & Erin Donovan, Susan (Donovan) & Bret Gottschall, Andrew & Natalie Donovan, and their combined seven nieces and nephews – all big fans of Uncle Dave’s goofiness and wacky shirts! Heartfelt thanks to the many hardworking staff at the University of Kansas Cancer Center and Kansas City Hospice who cared for David and his family during his challenging cancer fight. In lieu of flowers, donations to either of the below would be welcomed: 1. Support Dave’s by supporting his parent’s deep Catholic faith by contributing to their scholarship fund at their parish: The Chris & Neva George Scholarship Fund C/O St. Paul’s Catholic Church, 21650 W. 115th Terrace , Olathe, KS 66061 2. Honor Dave and His Family’s love of adopting shelter pets: Wayside Waifs 3901 Martha Truman Rd, Kansas City, MO 64137 David’s Celebration of Life will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday May 21, 2024, at the Ball Event Center, 21350 W. 153rd St., Olathe, KS 66061 after a private interment ceremony. Join us for this casual attire reception with food, drinks, and storytelling. Overall merriment and new memories are sure to be made. *** If, in reading this, you smiled, I have given a good and true representation of who Dave G was. If it made you think of your own great story of Dave, then I did better than good, which is what he truly deserves. Please continue to follow Dave’s lead – always be willing to help how and where you can; leave the world better than you found it and occasionally, stick your neck out and “Go for the laugh!”— we’ll all be better for it. NOTE: The family asks that stories, memories, words of encouragement continue to be posted on David’s Facebook page vs. to this obituary site. Julie G.

David Alan George

September 19, 1967 - May 7, 2024