Word has been received of the October 7, 2018, death of former Grace Brethren pastor, George R. Christie.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, October 12, at Valley Hills Funeral Home, Yakima, Wash. Viewing will begin at 9 a.m., prior to the service.
George Raymond Christie, age 87, went to be with his Lord and Savior at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 7, 2018, just as a gorgeous sunrise was taking place.
George was born January 4, 1931, near Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. He graduated from Soo High School in 1950 and then attended the two-year college in Soo until 1952 when he transferred to Michigan State University. He and Phyllis McCarry were married on March 1, 1952. He then graduated from MSU with a B.A. in Geography. Immediately after graduating Uncle Sam drafted him for a two-year stint, which was spent in Germany. Following his discharge from the U.S. Army, he worked for six months as a map draftsman for the State of Michigan. At that time he decided to go back to school and obtain a degree in Geology. The Lord had other plans and so he, Phyllis and their two children were led to a newly formed Grace Brethren Church. George received the Lord on Valentine’s Day and again they packed up and moved to Winona Lake, Ind. It was there he attended Grace Theological Seminary for four years receiving a Master of Divinity degree in 1962. He was immediately called to Grandview, Washington. His entire 44 years in the ministry were spent in the State of Washington where he served four established churches and started three new ones.
George is survived by his wife Phyllis, of Yakima; two sons, Randy (Teresa) of Henderson, Nev., and Vance (Leeta) of Aurora, Neb.; two daughters, Debbie Corning of Yakima and Vicki (Bryan) Futch of Pekin, Ind.; sister Audrey Yurich of Chandler, Ariz.; 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
George is preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, two brothers, one granddaughter and one great-grandson.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. on Friday, October 12, 2018, with viewing the hour prior both at Valley Hills Funeral Home (2600 Business Lane, Yakima). Burial will follow at Terrace Heights Memorial Park.
A special thanks to the staff at Summitview Living Care Health Center for the loving care given George as he resided there during the last seven months of his life.
George had chosen as his life’s verse, Philippians 1:21 FOR TO ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST, AND TO DIE IS GAIN.