George Edward Counsell

George Edward Counsell, 82, a longtime Moses Lake resident, passed away Wednesday, July 5, 2023, after a short battle with cancer. George was the first-born son of Ed and Lillian Counsell on Nov. 1, 1940, and raised in LaGrande, Oregon on a cattle ranch. He loved living on Happy Valley Ranch driving tractors, putting up hay, herding cattle and riding horses exploring local mountains and streams with his brothers. He attended a little country grade school just down the road and LaGrande High School. He was an active member of FFA and played an alto saxophone in the high school band. He graduated in 1958. He joined the U.S. Air Force in September 1959 and served until September 1963. He was stationed at San Antonio, Texas; Chanute, Illinois; Roswell, New Mexico and Larson Air Force Base in Moses Lake. He was an airman 1st class, assistant crew chief and jet mechanic on a KC 135. He served temporary duty in Fairbanks, Alaska and Hickman AFB in Hawaii.