George Clyde Weekley

George Clyde Weekley, 88, passed away on April 17, 2023, in Sylva, NC. He was surrounded by his immediate family: his wife, Ellen; his son, George Jr.; and his three daughters; Patricia, Donna, and Jean.   

George was born on October 20, 1934, in Perdido, Alabama to Lebious Verlyn and Leila Mae Havard Weekley. He graduated from Bay Minette High School in 1952.

George received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education with a focus in Guidance Counseling from the University of Alabama in 1955. In 1958 he graduated from the Divinity School of Duke University, with a Master of Divinity degree. The following year was spent in the Pastoral Counseling program sponsored by Duke University and Duke Medical Center.

In 1957, while at Duke, George met the love of his life and future wife, Ellen Harris, a fellow Duke student. George and Ellen married in 1959 and moved to Forest Hills, New York where George served as the Minister of Religious Education at the Church in the Gardens for seven years.

In 1966, George and Ellen moved to Cullowhee, NC where George served as Director of the Wesley Foundation for 32 years. In his role as United Methodist Campus Minister, George served as a liaison between a loving church community and Western Carolina University students to help students celebrate God while connecting with each other and the world around them.

The great joys of George’s life were his family and friends, Cullowhee United Methodist Church, Wesley Foundation and being connected to Western Carolina University. He and Ellen loved traveling and sightseeing, enjoying time at the beach and playing golf. From his beloved Blue Devils, Crimson Tide and Catamounts to anything his children and grandchildren participated in, George loved watching all sports.  But most important to George was living a life of showing up whenever and wherever he was needed.    

George is predeceased by his parents Lebious and Leila Mae Weekley, his brother Forrest Weekley and his sister Lavon Weekley Baskin. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Ellen Weekley of Cullowhee, NC. He is also survived by his son, George Weekley Jr. of Fort Myers, FL; Patricia Lee of Cullowhee, NC; Donna Watson (Gary) of Arden, NC; and Jean Scott of Athens, Ohio.

Nothing gave George more joy than being a grandfather to his five adored grandchildren, Allyson Weekley Mogush (Chris), Joseph Lee (Sally), Andrew Watson, Tylor Scott (Tabatha), and Ethan Scott; and three great-grandchildren, Barrett Boone Scott, Colter Allen Dean Scott, and Madison James Mogush.

A celebration of George’s life will be held at Cullowhee United Methodist Church at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 4, 2023.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in George’s honor to the Wesley Foundation for the George Weekley Student Needs Fund. Donations may be sent to Wesley Foundation, PO Box 2345, Cullowhee, NC, 28723.

To offer online condolences, visit www.appalachianfuneralservices.com.