PHELPS, George James Stanley

1923 - 2020

The Phelps Family is saddened to announce the passing of George, our Patriarch, at age 97. He was predeceased by his wife, Alice (age 94). George was a Saskatchewan farm boy who came to Calgary shortly after the war, where he met Alice, and together they raised six children: Jim, Doreen, Don, Stan, Brian, Mike. In his early years, he coached hockey in Tuxedo Park, where he and Alice were active, founding community members. Dad was always able, in spite of his busy work schedule, to find time to attend our games, sometimes making it to two or three in one evening. You’d look up, and there he’d be, cheering us on. George sponsored hockey teams in the northeast, and he and Alice were regular attendees at the Calgary Canuck Games for several decades. They even travelled east to Ottawa to cheer the team, coached by son Don, to a Centennial Cup Victory. They were attendees when son Mike played for the National Softball Championship in Newfoundland. The Phelps’ house was always a hub of activity: competition, sports and humour, with friends, family and on occasion hockey billets. For Mom and Dad, Thursday evenings were for Cribbage at the Elks’ Club; Fridays for all manner of other games at the house. As well, both Alice and George were active members of the Calgary Horseshoe Club; Alice, winning medals in the Alberta Senior Games, and George, famous for always winning enough money at Bowness Park picnics to buy the brood pop and hotdogs. George was always able to put people at ease with his sense of humour. We salute a staunch Veteran and a Pillar of our Community. He will be missed by his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many friends. The family will be holding an informal "Memorial and Tribute," with appropriate social distancing, at Tuxedo Park on Saturday, August 15, from 1:00 - 3:00.