George Emory Sipes was my father. For reasons I’ve never been entirely clear on, I ended up with a different last name. Go figure. He and my mother separated when I was about 3 years old and I only connected with him later when I was in my thirties. I don’t know what the causes of the separation were and at this point it doesn’t really matter.
When I finally met up with him as an adult I found we had a lot in common. In some ways that was a good thing in others, not so much. We were both remarkably stubborn individuals and sometimes that got in the way of developing a fresh relationship. Put us on opposite ends of the country and, well, we never got a chance to become close. Still, from everything I know he was a good many. Flawed, as all of us are, but on the whole a good man. And he will be missed.
Served USS Sperry from 1955-1957,
then on the submarine Queen Fish from 1957 to 1960.
Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd’st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
A devoted volunteer from 1987 to 2015
“Catching was always better than fishing.”
Music
Played french horn, saxophone, clarinet
and loved the “Big Band” tunes.
“Blue Water Cruising” was his dream
Passionate about VW design and
engineering, but nothing beats the
sound of a modified V8 engine.
Motorcycles
Riding with the guys was such a thrill,
especially on a vintage bike.
Family
Being with family always brought a smile to his face.
“Love of my life”
Gay Sipes is the wonderful lady my father married after he and my mother separated. She is a sweet lady and has become a dear friend.
A one-of-a-kind love, together forever.
(George and Gay are Latter Day Saints. One of the beliefs of that faith is that marriage continues beyond this life and into eternity. So when they say “forever” they mean “forever.”)
Life is a journey of sweetness and sorrow,
Of yesterday’s memories and hopes for tomorrow,
Of pathways we choose and detours we face
With patience and humor, courage and grace
Of joys that we’ve shared and of people we’ve met
Who have touched us in ways we will never forget.
Rest in peace, Dad. I only wish we’d had more time.
The Writer in Black 