George Thomas Utley

George Thomas Utley II, 64, of Slaughters, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, July 25, 2020.  He was born December 3, 1955 in Henderson, the last of four children born to Clarence Matthew and Rosetta (Tompkins) Utley. After graduating from Henderson City High in 1973 he worked in the grocery industry as both a produce manager and store manager for Winn-Dixie and Buehler’s.  He later worked as a die caster at Gibbs. His daughter, Stephanie, was born to his first wife, Paula, in 1983.George married Penny Whitsell on November 25, 1989 and they enjoyed more than 30 years of marriage and travels together.  They were both thrilled to welcome their first grandchild, Olivia, into the world in January 2020. He was a lifelong supporter of the UK Wildcats and St. Louis Cardinals.  In recent years he had also taken to cheering the Pittsburgh Penguins just to (lovingly) spite his son-in-law, Jesse. Let it be known that after 11 years of fighting the cancer that had invaded his body, it did not beat him.  His official cause of death shall be listed as stubbornness of the soul and he took the cancer down with him. George was a loving husband and an adored father and Papaw to his children and grandchildren (both two- and four-legged).  He is survived by his wife, Penny, daughters, Stephanie and Macey, son-in-law, Jesse, and grandchildren, Olivia, Starbuck, and Apollo. A private graveside service will be held on Wednesday, July 29, 2020. In lieu of flowers, the family would very much appreciate donations be made in George’s name to the Slaughters Cemetery Fund P. O. Box 23, Slaughters, KY  42456.