George Albert Pettit, 1954-2011

George Pettit on bottom left, at the Nevada Test in November 1987 during Dorothy Day's 90th birthday CWer gathering (with Jack and Felice Cohen-Joppa and kids, Brian Flagg and Jim Walsh.

After spending a lifetime making the world a more peaceful place, George "Jorge" Pettit left this world peacefully at home in Tucson on July 26, 2011. Born September 7, 1954, in Libby, Montana, he was a graduate of Montana State and taught school on the Crow Reservation before moving to Tucson in 1986.

A loving and compassionate husband, father, brother, and friend, he was preceded in death by his mother Catherine (Roberts) and stepmother Helen (Caulkins). He is survived by his wife Debra "Debbie" (Bjorndahl); children, Catherine "Katie" and Lydia; father, Francis; and siblings, Betts, Joan, Joe, Margee, Julie, and Patty.

George was an angel on Earth, always generously giving to others; first through the Casa Maria Catholic Worker House in Tucson http://www.casamariatucson.org/, where he lived and worked for 19 years and is considered the "Soul of Casa Maria," with the Pima County Interfaith Council (PCIC), and then through public service with Tucson City Council member Karin Uhlich.

George's lifelong selflessness made him a friend to all who knew him.  And what a friend he was.

He considered his greatest achievement to be his two daughters, Katie and Lydia, who, with his beloved and devoted wife Debbie, will carry on his legacy of love.

His family wants to thank all of the doctors, nurses, and caretakers that gave us five years more than he could have had. You are miracle workers. We also send our love to all friends and family who have been by his side all of these years.

If there are saints walking the Earth today, George was one of them. He lived his life caring for the least among us. So please, in lieu of flowers, give of yourself in some way to the service of others. When asked by his sister, Joan, in his final days if there was anything he needed her to finish, he whispered gently, "The Revolution."

Condolences can be sent to George’s family at 5341 E 10th, Tucson, AZ 85711. Condolences can be sent to Francis Pettit at 878 S. Palmetto St. Cornelius, OR 97113.

Photo: George Pettit on bottom left, at the Nevada Test in November 1987 during Dorothy Day's 90th birthday CWer gathering (with Jack and Felice Cohen-Joppa and kids, Brian Flagg and Jim Walsh)