Georgialee Marietta Minthorn

October 10, 1924 – January 21, 2014

Life Story

Georgialee M. Hansen Minthorn was born October 10, 1924 in Omaha, Nebraska, daughter of Rosalee Riley and George M. Hansen. A very precocious, outgoing child, Georgialee started first grade at the age of 4. She graduated from South Omaha High School in 1938. Georgialee was an extremely popular girl that everyone liked. She said they used to swing dance to a live band every day during lunch. She sang as an alto in an A Capella Choir which she enjoyed and was Queen of a group called, “Job’s Daughters.” During High School, Georgia was an avid junior golfer and would compete locally in competitions.

Georgialee was accepted into college at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska. Her mother, Rosalee, a concert violinist, wanted her to major in music, since Georgialee was quite good at playing piano. Instead, Georgialee took after her father who was a medical doctor. She majored in Chemistry and graduated with a degree in Chemistry. It was in a chemistry class that she met and fell in love with Murray Franklin Minthorn. She would study for hours with Murray and his twin brother, Martin a/k/a Bop. Georgialee was a proud member of the Huskers marching band in which she played the baritone. She also joined a sorority, Alpha Omicron Pi (AOII) and lived in the sorority house for 4 years. She was pianist for the sorority and served as President of AOII and President of the AOII Alum group later in life.

After they graduated with Bachelor of Science degrees, Murray and Georgia were married on June 16, 1945. She put Murray through Medical School by working as a chemist at Swift ‘n Company in Omaha, Nebraska. They moved a few times during Murray’s residency and finally settled back in Omaha, Nebraska to begin a medical practice where Murray was a family practitioner. They had three children, Thomas George Minthorn, Lawrence Murray Minthorn and Patricia Jean Minthorn McConnell.

Georgia and Murray worked well together. She served as his office manager and he was an old fashioned doctor who made house calls for his special patients. They were committed to the practice and were very successful. Georgialee used her charming, outgoing personality to bring in new patients for Murray. She was good at leading groups and served as President of PTA, of another sorority in Omaha, PEO-Chapter E, as well as other groups in Omaha. Georgialee loved to be involved in many social functions. She had “the luck of the Irish,” as her mother used to say, and loved to play bridge. She won quite often. In fact, she was an extremely competitive game player. She never even let her grandchildren win. Oh no, they had to earn it.

Murray and Georgialee were married for 49 years until Murray passed away in 1994. Larry and Pat, and their girls Melody, Natalee and Huldah, moved to Omaha to live near Georgialee in her early years as a widow. In 1997 Georgialee moved to Bellevue, Washington to live near her son, Tom and Susan and Samantha (their daughter). In 2001, Georgialee moved to Warm Beach Senior Center to live near her daughter, Patty and Paul, and their children, Audrey, Perry and Nate. She was very involved in community life at Warm Beach. She served as president of the Hobby Club which is now Warm Beach Fellowship Club. She worked on rewriting the Warm Beach Residents’ Constitution, she was on the Food Committee, and worked on improving and finding a leader for the Thrift Shop. She had a hand in starting the Thrift Shop fashion show. In her later years, she and her friend, Eldon Haggstrom, played piano duets at Warm Beach and in several nursing homes in the area. Georgialee passed away on January 21, 2014 at Providence Hospital in Everett, Washington.

Georgialee was a vibrant, gregarious, leader who got things done. She was a force, had a bright, cheerful smile and was always happy. She did not believe in letting herself get down about anything. She lived life in a peppy way, loved action and peppy music. She loved swing and jazz music. Frank Sinatra was her favorite singer. She had blue eyes just like he did. In fact, Murray and Bop called her, “Blue Eyes.” Her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and many friends loved Georgialee very much. She was always up for a card game, a puzzle, a movie or just any fun. She will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her three children as mentioned, namely: Tom, Larry and Patty; six grandchildren, namely: Susan and Tom’s daughter, Samantha; Larry and Pat’s daughters, Melody, Natalee and Huldah; and, Patty and Paul’s children, Audrey, Perry and Nate, and five great grandchildren, namely: Melody and Edin’s children, Finn, Fay, and Mary Lucille; Huldah and David’s daughter, Matilda; and Perry and Emily’s son, Samuel.

She will be buried in Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Nebraska next to Murray and his twin brother, Martin Minthorn (Bop for short). Instead of flowers or gifts, please send memorial checks to Children’s Hospital in Seattle, Washington in honor of her deceased grandson, Auden Bruce McConnell who passed away there on September 25, 2012. He was only 10 months old.

Arrangements under the direction of Purdy & Walters with Cassidy Funeral Home, Everett, WA.