- Welcome to Sweeney and Beverly Life Celebration Services, where we Celebrate the Color of Life.
George W Mickle
His smile was ever present; to be around him was a joy. His secret to living to 95 was laughter (though a second secret may have been all the vegetables that came out of his garden). If you called his home, you’d receive a cheerful greeting: “Hello, Mickle Mansion”; of course, during more honest times you’d hear “Hello, Mickle Madhouse.” The Riverside boy met a pretty Burlington girl named Rita McGill: they figured they’d split the difference and live in Beverly. They settled into their home in 1957 and filled it with 8 children, his mother-in-law Bert, and lots of love. George was always in motion, sometimes working as many as three jobs to keep his family fed. He was a lab technician at Hoeganaes for 38 years, supplemented with work at Weiss Hardware, sold appliances at JM Fields, and in semi-retirement was a city housing inspector. Regardless of how many hours he worked, he still somehow summoned the energy to attend all his kid’s games and shuffle them around to their events. George was strong in his faith, attending Mass daily at St. Joseph’s, singing in the choir and helping out on most of the funerals. Christmas was his holiday: all year long he knew the exact number of shopping days left and the 25th found him jokingly wearing his “Bah Humbug” attire. If he found a little extra time, he’d most likely be involved somehow in his community: George was a volunteer with the fire police, a member of the Knights of Columbus and served a term on the Beverly City Council.
He was the husband of the late Rita; father of the late Mark (Ellen), Kathleen Baptista (the late Dana), Kelly (Carol), Kevin (Jodi), Bill (Tracy), Chris (Amy), Mary Lynn (Jeff) Heller, and Shawn (Tori); grandfather of Joshua, Emily, Faye, Lauren, Xavier, August, Stephanie, Kimberly, Amanda, Ryan, Walter, Naomi, Jessica, Jacob and Alyssa; great grandfather of Ellis, Joelle, Ella, Mia, Dana, Ryleigh, Haidynne, Colin, Tanner, Anthony, Amrita, Amaya, Giovanni, and Solana.
Please join us in celebrating 95 wonderful years Thursday August 8th, 6-8 p.m. and Friday 9-10 a.m. at Sweeney Funeral Home, Beverly. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday August 9th at 10:30 a.m. at Jesus, the Good Shepherd Parish, St. Joseph’s Church, Beverly. Interment follows at Odd Fellows Cemetery, Burlington.
10 Comments
George was a great friend. I recruited him to be a member of the Knights of Columbus in 2020. He was a valuable member by volunteering his time and serving as an officer. I also recruited him in 2009 to join the St. Vincent de Paul Society where he served as volunteer at the food pantry every Thursday until the pantry closed in 2020. From then on, I called him from time to time especially before his birthday to be first one to extend birthday wishes. He kept me laughing and I kept him laughing,. He will always be remembered for his sense of humor with his jokes and puns. Everyone who knew George liked him and no one could say anything negative about him. He was Mr. Personality.
I will miss my friend, but I know he has joined his beloved Rita in heaven.
I got to know George during my work layoff during the days of Covid, he was always the 1st one at the church for morning mass, he was quite a jokester, I loved when he would sing songs with me , he had a great voice, I would bring sweet treats to mass and he always complimented how much he enjoyed them, he will be greatly missed by the his friends and fellow parishioners at St Joseph’s. I’m sad for your family’s loss, but I know you can take comfort in the thought of him being reunited with your mother Rita. Sending hugs and prayers to your family at this very difficult time. With Love, Fran Palombi Kauffman
So sorry to hear of his passing. He was a really good guy. I remember him as a great friend to my dad Joe “Bub” MacKenzie
rest in peace brother
Rest in Peace. May Perpetual Light shine apon you.
Dear Mickle family, we are saddened to hear the news of George’s passing. We will miss his words of wisdom each Sunday as he entered Church. He would always stop at the end of our pew and when he knew he had our full attention, the words of wisdom would flow! George always stood out in a crowd for all the right reasons and will be missed by each and every person he crossed paths with. We hope happy times of the past soon fill your hearts and minds turning sad tears into happy ones. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. with Sympathy, Geri & Tim Scassero
George was a outstanding person he will be missed by all who knew him RIP GEORGE MY CONDOLENCES TO HIS FAMILY ..
My sincere condolences to the Mickle family on the loss of your beloved dad.
I had the pleasure and privilege of working along side of George at Hoeganaes Corp. in the late 1960s while in college. I can concur with the obituary about George’s unwavering, positive disposition. I never saw him angry and, if he said something to a colleague that might be deemed critical, it was always part of some practical joke George had cooked up. But his funniest skit was lumbering through the lab room where we all worked reprising the famous line from Looney Tunes spoken by actor Tex Avery as Willoughby the Dog to George the Fox (voiced by Mel Brooks) which went: “Which way did he go, George, which way did he go?” George Mickle (the man, not the Fox) nailed it every time! I was lucky to have seen George at my uncle’s funeral service at St. Joseph’s about 8 or 9 years ago. He was assisting the priest at the funeral. As the obituary attests, he was quite a guy.
Thank you for everything you did for Beverly. My condolences to your family.