George Guy Little

On Sunday, July 21, 2024, George Guy Little passed away at 90 years of age at Royal Inland Hospital. George was a single child born on November 5, 1933, at Mrs. Phillips Nursing Home in Kamloops to parents Ellen (Burgess) and John G. (“Jack”) Little. He lived his entire life on his family’s ranch located off Goose Lake Road in the Knutsford community. He attended Stuart Wood School in Kamloops until grade 10, and when his father became blind, he left school to work on the ranch.

George’s father immigrated to Canada in 1910 and settled in the Knutsford area in 1925. After his father passed, George lived with his mother and ranched alongside his childhood friend, Noel Michell, and his family. George was a generous neighbor, a member of the Kamloops Stock Association, and enjoyed being part of the Knutsford community. He often stayed close to home but enjoyed his trips to the Williams Lake Bull Sale with Noel and Katy Michell, and he enjoyed attending many farm shows with his good friend Frank Ebl.

George enjoyed ranching and was eager to embrace new approaches to livestock management and infrastructure. He enthusiastically incorporated a Longhorn steer, Tex, into his herd for many years as his marker animal and appreciated the benefits of many different cattle breeds. He crossbred his Horned Hereford herd with Shorthorn, Polled Hereford, Limousin, Murray Grey, Red Angus, and Gelbvieh bulls before many of his neighbors embraced crossbreeding programs. George was always thinking of improvements he could incorporate into his corrals, as well as customizing existing farm equipment and purchasing new equipment.

George held a natural curiosity for the world. He enjoyed his large collection of science magazines and watched a variety of TV documentaries, which he loved to share with his friends by gifting DVDs and CDs. He embraced the internet as it allowed him access to novel approaches to ranching and unique equipment. He enjoyed woodworking, and many people are still working on his puzzles that he made and gifted to them. George enjoyed people and will be remembered by many for his generosity, his exuberant gift-wrapping skills, mischievous sense of humor, and friendship.

George enjoyed his bachelor life but also appreciated family and became a much-loved member of the Michell and Ciancone families. He enjoyed his time with friends and often started his day with a few early morning phone calls. Over the years, George appreciated the long-term advice and support he received from his good friends and advisors Mary MacGregor and Harvey Comazzetto, and the help he received from many of his neighbors. He is survived by his cousins Stuart Walker and Allister and Donald McLean.

Many thanks to Carmen Loschiavo for her care in his later years, the staff at Chartwell Ridgepointe, his team of nurses from Nurse Next Door Home Care Services who facilitated George living independently, and his doctors and nurses at Royal Inland Hospital. George also greatly valued the care he received from Sylvia Chivers in his final years.

A memorial service will be scheduled later in the Fall to facilitate family from overseas attending. Memorial gifts may be made to the Alzheimer Society of British Columbia. Please send donations by cheque to Suite 300-828 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1E2, or donate online at alzbc.org.