Obituary

George Avery Drye 78, of Bloomington passed into his eternal rest at his home on Friday October 11, 2024. George was born July 7, 1946, near Middleburg, Ky, a son of George Weatherford Drye Junior and Mary Eloise (Carman) Drye. He married the love of his life, Clarena (Lena Bakker) Drye, July 3, 1970, at Rock Valley, Iowa. She survives. Also surviving are his sisters; Mary J. Drye of Bloomington and Linda M. Drye of Erlanger, Ky.; their children Daniel (Renee) Drye of Crest Hill, Nathan (Qiana) Drye of Wheaton, David (Nicole) Drye of Riverside, Oh., Hannah (Bryant) Giorgi of Sault Sainte Marie, Mi.; their Grandchildren, Madison, Samantha, Joshua, Dylan, Reagan, Christian, Elizabeth, Dean and Blaise. He graduated from BHS and then the Univ. of Illinois with a BS in Civil Engineering. He worked for IDOT 10 years overseeing construction of parts of I-57 and I-55 and other projects, and then the City of Bloomington for 26 years. He retired from the City as Dir. Engineering and Water in 2004. He then worked part time for the Farnsworth Group for 5 years. George served Immanuel Baptist Church as Sunday School teacher and Elder. With Clarena, they also served many years as youth group leaders, taking the group on several mission trips to work with disadvantaged children in rural Mississippi. Public visitation will be at Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home on Monday October 14, 2024, from 5-7 PM. A funeral service will be at Immanuel Baptist Church in Bloomington on Tuesday October 15, 2024, at 10 AM with Pastor Keith Throop officiating. Interment at Funks Grove Cemetery will follow the funeral. Memorial gifts can be made to the Youth Group Fund at Immanuel Baptist Church. George enjoyed building things including their home, serving at his church, and spending time with his wife, his children and grandchildren.