June 23, 1940 - July 11, 2024
George Charles Kraft, born in Spokane, Washington on June 23,1940 to Marcus and Rosemary Kraft, passed away peacefully on Thursday July 11, 2024 on his 54th wedding anniversary, at the age of 84.
After graduation from Spokane North Central High School in 1959, George enlisted in the US Army. He served as a paratrooper infantryman in the 101st Airborne Division out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. During his military service, George also served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and continued that service throughout his life.
After the military, George went to electrical school. He then put his skills to use remodeling numerous rental homes. While operating a successful rental home business, George also was employed at the Department of Motor Vehicles. He had the nerve-racking task of co-driving and scoring the abilities of new drivers trying to obtain their drivers license. George became a family man on July 11, 1970 when he married the love of his life, Johnye Miller in the Idaho Falls Temple. George and Johnye had three children; Del, Jody and Carrie. George loved taking the family on vacations to Priest Lake where they enjoyed waterskiing, boating and camping with friends.
Beginning in the late 1970’s and lasting for over 30 years, George and Johnye owned and operated Herb Village on Monroe street in Spokane. George was gifted and well informed in herbal medicine and made a huge positive impact on the lives of many Spokane residents. Herb Village was closed in 2009 and George and Johnye moved to Tennessee to be near family. While in Tennessee, they ran a storage unit business in Memphis prior to their return to the Pacific Northwest in 2018. George very much loved spending time with family and friends. He appreciated the beauty of nature and frequently talked about his adventures scuba diving, camping and water skiing. George is survived by his loving wife, Johnye Kraft; son, Del (Tracy) Kraft; daughter, Carrie (Damon) Murphy; daughter in-law, Mary Beth Kraft; 10 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents; Marcus and Rosemary (Guggisburg) Kraft; his son-in-law, Brad King; his sister, Sheila Hocum; and his son, Jody Lee Kraft.