Georgene Elaine Rieck (July 26, 1942), Lompoc, California

Georgene passed away peacefully on Friday, May 18, 2012, after a long battle with cancer. She was 69.

Georgene was born in Lompoc on July 26, 1942 to George and Mary Taylor. She spent part of her childhood on the Jalama Ranch where she cultivated her love horses. She attended Lompoc area schools, graduating Lompoc High School in 1961. In 1960, she married Raymond Sousa, and had three children with him. They divorced in the early 1970s. In the mid-1970s, she married William L. Rieck and was widowed in 1993.

For many years, Georgene worked at the Lompoc Valley Credit Bureau; most recently, she owned and operated William Rieck Plumbing.

Georgene was preceded in death by her daughter Teresa Sousa, her parents Mary and George Taylor, her beloved husband William Rieck, and most recently by her first husband Raymond Sousa, whose death eight days before her own had affected her deeply.

Georgene is survived by her son Gregory R. Sousa (Loretta) of Burbank, CA; daughter Tiffany Sousa of Lompoc, CA; grandson William Sousa of Burbank, CA; brother George E. Taylor II (Andi) of Lompoc, CA; nieces Leigh Johnson (Ron) of Lompoc, CA, and Kelly Strupp (Kevin) of Paso Robles, CA; grandniece Jessica Johnson and grandnephew Casey Strupp; numerous cousins and many friends, especially Simon Brandt, Vicki Cota, and Shirley Oviatt, each of whom were part of Georgene’s extended family. Georgene’s two dogs, George and Sammy, have been adopted by Shirley.

A memorial service will be held for Georgene on Thursday, May 31, 2012, at 11:00 AM, at Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery; reception to follow at Elks Lodge 2274, 905 E. Ocean Avenue, Lompoc, CA. Contributions may be made in Georgene’s memory to Volunteers for Inter-Valley Animals (VIVA), PO Box 896, Lompoc, CA, 93438 or online at www.vivaonline.org/donate.htm.