George Wilson McConkie IV's Obituary
George Wilson McConkie IV passed away on April 17, 2021 after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease and cancer. He passed peacefully in his home at the age of 83 with his wife and children by his side. George was born in Holden, Millard County, Utah, on July 15, 1937 to George Wilson McConkie III and Mabel Stephenson McConkie. George served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Eastern States Mission, USA from 1957-1959. He married Orlene Carol Johnson September 6, 1962 in the Logan, Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. George earned his Master of Science degree from Brigham Young University and his PhD from Stanford University. He and his young family then moved to Ithaca, New York where George taught at Cornell University for 14 years. In 1978 he accepted a teaching position at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.
George excelled in his field of Educational Psychology and provided pioneering research on eye movement, cognition and reading. He became world renowned for his groundbreaking research. This grew into a position at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois. Among the honors George received were his induction into the Reading Hall of Fame, appointment as Senior Scholar in the College of Education at the University of Illinois, the Outstanding Scientific Contribution to the Study of Reading Award, and a Fellowship from the Fulbright Scholar Program of Taiwan.
In addition to George’s tremendous professional career he was also an active member in his church where he served as a Seminary Teacher, Bishop, Counselor in the Stake Presidency, Choir Director, Sunday School Teacher and more. George loved spending time with family, learning, music, fishing and poetry.
In addition to his loving wife, Orlene Johnson McConkie, he is survived by his fourteen children: Lynnette (David) Mooth, Heather (Bryan) Usevitch, April (John) Rhiner, Faline (Robert) Coffelt, Wilson (Alisa) McConkie, Bryce (Lynnette) McConkie, Camille (Dennis) Howard, Elissa McConkie, Esther (Chris) Ostler, Bryna (Lehland) Burton, Ruth (Joshua) Olson, Anna (Josh) Cooke, Cynthia (Timothy) Lau, Thomas (Emily) McConkie, 75 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, his siblings: Linda (Donald) Brady and Donna (Jon) Chamberlain. He is preceded in death by his parents, brother Paul (Sharon) McConkie, and grandchildren: Taeger Lau and Talitha Olson, and great-grandchild: Johnnie Bearden.
Funeral services will be held Monday, April 26, 2021, 1:00 PM at the Ensign Stake Center, 135 A Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84103. Viewing hours will be 11-12:45 AM the same day. A streaming option is available at https://zoom.us/j/98926248775. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to your favorite charity.
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