George E. Conniff

October 07, 1915 - July 01, 2009

George E. Conniff Obituary Passed away on July 1, 2009 in Spokane, WA. George was born in Blanchard, Idaho to George and Alma Clare Conniff. He was preceded in death by his two older sisters, Mary Louise Hansen Pearce and Olive Rose Pearce. When George was six months old, he went with his family to see a new baby in Spring Valley Washington. Twenty-five years later he married her. She was the love of his life and his wife of sixty-four years, Eleanor "Jane" Conniff, who passed away in 2006. In George's early years his father was a foreman for the ice plant on Spirit Lake. Later his family moved to a stump ranch in Spring Valley, WA. where he attended grade school. The family later moved to Sandpoint where George graduated from high school. During the depression, he fished commercially on Pend Oreille Lake and joined the CCC's. In 1941 he enlisted in the Navy. He survived the attack on the USS Nevada at Pearl Harbor, and the sinking of the Eversole, and numerous other battles. He married Jane while on shore leave in Bremerton, Washington in 1942. The family eventually moved to Ione where George worked on Box Canyon and Boundary Dams. Later he started his own contracting business. He loved to fly fish on local lakes and developed flies that are still "killers". He also loved skiing and skied well into his 80's. George was an electrician by trade and a farmer by heart. In 1971 he established Hidden Acres Orchards on Green Bluff. He took great pride in growing wonderful apples, cherries, and peaches. He found great pleasure in teaching an untold number of people how to pick tree-ripened peaches. George was a quiet thoughtful man devoted to his family and his work. Jane and George and the love that they shared were an inspiration to their friends and family. George is survived by his daughter; Karene Simchuk, his son and daughter-in-law; George and Diane Conniff, six grandchildren; Nick Simchuk, Kadene Simchuk, Alisha Westby, Cory Conniff, Kim Taber, and Katye Conniff, four great-grandchildren, his adopted family; the Smiths, loving nieces and nephews and wonderful friends. Contributions may be made to American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association. Services for George will be held Saturday, July 11, 2009 at 2:00 PM at Heritage Funeral Home, 508 N. Government Way, Spokane WA. 99224