George Edward Bretz

George Edward Bretz, age 87, of Grants Pass, died Thursday, April 7, 2011 at Three Rivers Community Hospital.

A memorial service will be at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, April 16, 2011 at Newman United Methodist Church. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

Memorial donations may be made to the Boys and Girls Club of the Rogue Valley, 203 SE 9th Street, Grants Pass, Oregon 97526.

George was born July 24, 1923 in Danville, Illinois to Jeremiah & Eva Bretz. He lived in Central City, Nebraska before moving to Gillette, Wyoming in 1936 and graduated from Camel County High School in 1939. After graduation he moved from Wyoming to Drain, Oregon, then to Grants Pass in 1941. He joined the military in 1942 and was stationed at Camp Abbot in Bend, Oregon, Fort Lewis in Washington state and also served in Okinawa, Japan until his honorable discharge in March 1946. On April 5, 1946 in Grants Pass he married Ethel Jean Cain at Newman United Methodist Church and she preceded him in death in 1986. On July 3, 1994 in Grants Pass he married Harriet Hinton and they later divorced. For over 30 years he worked in the meat packing business and owned and operated Rogue Valley Packing Company, Caveman Meat Company and Mid-Cave Meat Company. In 1971 he started Grayback Mountain Youth Ranch in Williams, Oregon which he operated for 21 years. He also owned and operated George Bretz Livestock where he bought and sold livestock for many years.

George was a member of Newman United Methodist Church teaching Sunday school and singing in the choir; Josephine County Sheriff Posse where he was twice Past Captain; Josephine County Youth Advisory Council and the Josephine County Health Board.

His hobbies included square dancing with the Applegaters square dance group; singing in the Rogue Revelers Barber Shop quartet; teaching horseback riding; camping; trail riding; ranching and collecting antiques.

Survivors include a companion, Harriet Bretz of Grants Pass; a daughter, Barbara McCullough of Grants Pass; a son, David Bretz of Eugene, Oregon; a foster daughter, Beverly Prue of Puyallup, Washington; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.