Georgianne Kimberley

August 31, 1952 — August 23, 2015

Georgianne Schmuckal Kimberley, died peacefully after a long and courageous battle with

cancer. She was born August 31, 1953 in Portland, Oregon to Herbert and Catherine "Marge"

Schmuckal, attended St Charles Grade School, Academy of the Holy Child and graduated from

Reed College with a Bachelor of Arts. On November 9, 1999, she married Ogden Kimberley, the

love of her life. Their partnership went far beyond their fifteen years of marriage. Ogden always

said she was his life, she was his rock.

For over 45 years Georgianne worked in the telecommunications industry, beginning in high

school as a directory assistant operator, continuing to work for Pacific NW Bell during her

college years at Reed. After college, Georgianne moved from Operator Services to the male

dominated Plant Department. One of her first jobs included collecting coins and maintaining

telephone booths. She then progressed to installing and maintaining business telephone

systems. Georgianne was one of the first female business installers in Oregon, a job that

included climbing telephone poles. She progressed to work on specialty crews doing

installations for some of Oregon’s largest companies and later specialized in telephone system

software. Georgianne rose to the pinnacle of her profession when she became a FAST

engineer, responsible for resolving the most difficult maintenance issues nationwide. She was

the first female to ever hold this position. After living though the turbulent years of the

breakup of the Bell System she retired from Avaya after over 31 years. Georgianne was

immensely respected by her clients and coworkers. To quote one of her managers “She was

truly one of the great ones”.

Georgie was an exceptionally bright person who could hold her own in any conversation or

situation. She had a quick, delightful sense of humor, a love of travel and a spirit for adventure.

She was kind and generous to a fault and would not hesitate to give you the shirt off her back.

She was a beacon for lost, misfit cats and dogs who seemed to know that her doorstep meant a

warm and loving home. Her very own cats, Alasdair, Skink and Cullin, will sorely miss her.

She was a shining light in our lives and that constant twinkle in her eye made you wonder what

she was thinking and what mischief lurked behind her infectious grin. In memory of all of the

beautiful things Georgie did for others, the family is encouraging those attending the funeral to

wear her favorite color yellow, to fill the church with her bright spirit.

Georgianne is survived by her husband Ogden Kimberley, her nieces Michele Arnette and

Susette Verzosa, and great nephews Quentin Arnette and Evan Verzosa. Her older sister, Judy

Rieber, preceded her in death. On her husband’s side, Georgianne is survived by brothers-in-

law Kim, Jock and Stephen, sisters-in-law, Prudence, Deb and Alexa, their spouses and many

devoted nieces and nephews.

There will be a viewing from 10 am to 5 pm Friday, September 11, 2015, at Rose City Cemetery

and Funeral Home, 5625 NE Fremont St. Portland. A funeral Mass and Celebration of Life will be

at 11 am Saturday, September 12, 2015, at The Parish of St. Mark, 1025 NW 21st Avenue

Portland. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Leukemia and

Lymphoma Society, and the Oregon Humane Society.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Georgianne Kimberley, please visit our flower store.

Send a Card

Send With Love