Vivian G. (Kohler) St. George

Vivian St. George, who preferred to be called "Viv", was born Vivian Gossett on September 26, 1927. She would have been 88 last Saturday. Viv was born in Lancaster, Ohio, in the home of her aunt, as the family lived outside of Lancaster in a log cabin, and her mother came into town to deliver Viv. She attended school in the area, and after high school, went to work for a shoe manufacturer doing office work. Viv was converted in her early teens. She had begun attending church with a neighbor when she was 7 years of age. It reminds me that we never know the influence our faithfulness may have on others. A neighbor lady took Viv to church at age 7, and a life long devoted and faithful Christian was the result of that happy event.

Viv married John Kohler in 1954, and from that union, two sons were born. Kevin was the older brother, Darrell cam along a few years later. Both are here this afternoon. Kevin married Heidi, who became the daughter Viv never had. She considered Heidi one of her own. Viv, showing the love she always did for others, also had sort of an adopted family, neighbors, the McCarthy family from Gilbert, who she befriended after moving to Arizona. I believe some of the family are here with us today.

The boys remember their mother with fondness and love. They feel their childhoods were pretty typical. Viv worried about them and cared for tem as a mother does. When she got cold, she would make them put on their sweaters too. She was always helping her boys and others, driving them and friends to school and making sure they were in church. Darrell remembers getting to go to Dunkin Donuts some Sunday's before church, but always returning home after church for a delicious roast dinner or other offering from Viv, which they shared as a family. The boys remember summer vacations, several trips to San Diego and other fun places, where they would run around and cause general havoc. Viv did have some health issues, caused by a hard to detect bacteria, which sidelined their activities for a few years while the boys were growing up. But never a complainer, the boys didn't hear her complain, nor did we who knew her s she went through these last few difficult months.

After the boys started school, Viv worked for J.C. Penney and for Arizona State University, as well as other places, sometimes working two jobs at a time. At A.S.U. she assisted professors with their writing and grading of papers. Viv always had a gift for words. While working at A.S.U. Darrell attended college there, and benefited with a tuition reduction as the child of an employee. Viv worked several years at A.S.U., and became a bit of a computer expert there.

Viv cared for John in his final illness here at Sierra Winds, and later married Rev. Gordon St. George, after he too, had cared for his wife, Colleen, here at Sierra Winds for many years before her death. On April 11, 2011, Viv and Gordon were married, and had over four very happy years together. Both knew that God had given them the other for a season, and they much enjoyed the time God gave them together. Gordon reflects that part of what drew them together was the strong love and caring they saw the other show to their first spouse during their last illness.

Gordon tells me life was special with Viv. He remembers a trip they took back to Ohio to see some of Viv's family and how to attend a class reunion of Viv's, and Gordon shared how much they both enjoyed that trip. Gordon said it was exceptional, he got to be part of Viv's early life.

Viv was a talented woman. She was an artist, and organist, and a writer. Her poems were published in the United States and Europe. I would like to share with you a poem she wrote for the dedications of a church she attended, which was published in this book, "Theater Of The Mind", published by Noble House:

On June 13, 2015, Viv had a stroke, which left her physically limited in many ways. She would spend the rest of her days in the healthcare center here at Sierra WInds, visited three times a day or more by Gordon. There he would read to her, encourage her and love her, ad on September 21, just 8 days ago, Viv suffered another stroke and went home peacefully to spend eternity with Jesus. It was before breakfast and she was in an exercise session, laughing with the nurse or aide helping her, and she promptly stopped, and was gone

This dear woman, known for her dazzling smile and her encouragement of others, a woman of punctual daily devotions, especially her copy of "Jesus Calling" which she loved reading, this woman, referred to as "a real lady" by friends, is with Jesus. Gordon will miss her, her family will miss her, her friends will miss her. But she is home, home with the Jesus who saw her through all things, and now is seeing her into eternity. And for Vivian St. George, today is well, and all will be well.