Dr. George Irving Weatherly

George Irving Weatherly, Jr.,MD, age 92 of Fort Payne passed away March 29, 2009. He was born n August 3, 1916 in Guntersville, Alabama to parents George Irving and Mary Johnson Weatherly. He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Floy Bale Weatherly, his parents and sister Sara Weatherly Gilbreath. Dr. Weatherly received his formative education in the Fort Payne City Schools, graduating from DeKalb County High School in 1932. He completed his pre-med training at Marion Military Institute and graduated from medical school at Tulane University in 1939. Upon graduation, he was accepted for internship at Baroness Erlanger Hospital. In January 1942, Dr. Weatherly's internship was cut short after 18 months when he was called into military duty. He entered the U.S. Army with the rank of first lieutenant and was discharged with the rank of major. He received his military training at Camp Forrest, TN, Fort Lewis, WA, the Mojave Desert and the Hawaiian Islands. Arriving in Pearl Harbor he witnessed the horrendous devastation of half-sunken ships and debris. From Hawaii his division was sent to New Guinea before being moved to Northern Luzon, Philippine Islands. During his time in combat in New Guinea and the Philippines he was commander of a company composed of litter bearers, ambulance drivers, and an emergency operating group. He earned the Bronze Star Medal, Combat Medic Badge, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal with two Bronze Stars, World War II Victory Medal and Philippine Liberation Medal with Bronze Star. When the Philippine operation was completed he started training with an amphibious unit preparing for the invasion of Japan. His division was told it would be in the first wave to invade Japan and would land 20 minutes after the first man hit the beach. Following war's end he saw service with the occupation forces in Japan. Returning to Fort Payne following his discharge from the Army, he entered into medical practice with Dr. C.D. Killian. In only a few months, the Killian-Weatherly Clinic was constructed and in operation. The early clinics in Fort Payne were the first facilities in which surgery was performed. During his years of practicing medicine, Dr. Weatherly continually took annual courses of study to keep up-to-date with the latest developments in the medical field. His studies eventually led to his being named a Diplomat American Board of Family Practice. Dr. Weatherly was one of five founding trustees of Landmarks of DeKalb County, Inc. serving as its second president. During his active time as a trustee he was instrumental in Landmarks purchasing the Fort Payne Opera House. He was one of the founders of the DeKalb County Tourist Association, serving as its first president. Dr. Weatherly was a life-long member of First Baptist Church in Fort Payne and was a member of the first Boy Scout Troop in Fort Payne. Dr. Weatherly was known for his love of the outdoors. An avid hunter, he hunted big game in the western States as well as in Alaska. During later years of his life he developed an expertise as a snow skier and also as a scuba diver. He is survived by his brother, Walter Johnson Weatherly, son George Gordon Weatherly, Sr. daughters Mary Margaret Cook and husband Sonny, and Judith Ann Dawson; and six grandchildren: George Gordon Weatherly, Jr., Scott Paul Weatherly, John Michael Weatherly, William Brandon Cork, Wesley Gordon Cork, and James Edward Dawson; and two great grandchildren: Riley Clayton Cork and Parker Dylan Cork. Funeral services will be held Thursday, April 2, 2009 at 11 a.m. at Wilson Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation will be at Wilson Funeral Home Wednesday night from 7 until 9 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Mary C. weatherly Memorial Foundation for the benefit of the DeKalb County Library or to Landmarks of DeKalb County. Wilson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Dr. George Irving Weatherly

August 3, 1916 - March 29, 2009