George Alto Warrick

George Alto “Al” Warrick, Jr., 79, of Blakely, Georgia, died Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at his home. Al was born December 23, 1943, in Bainbridge, Georgia, to the late George Alto Warrick, Sr., and Rowena Daley Burford Warrick. At two days old, he came to Blakely where he lived his entire life. Al loved his town and every memory it brought. As a young boy riding his motor scooter to and from work, he started working with his father, George, and grandfather, Alto, at the Economy Associate Auto Store, a home and auto supplies store that started as a family business in the 1950s on Court Square. In 1970, the store expanded to a larger, new location on South Main Street as OTASCO, Oklahoma Tire & Supply Company, which he owned and operated until the business closed in 1994. Al worked with the Early County Sheriff’s Office until his retirement and thereafter never left home without his retiree badge, a frequent conversation piece of respect and gratitude for the men and women who rounded out his career. Born with insatiable curiosity and endless wit, Al was creative, talented, and always searching for a laugh. As a teenager at Blakely Union Middle School, the handsome prankster caught the eye of a beautiful young lady, Miss Mary Jane Owen, with whom he would spend the next 65 years. In 1962, he graduated from Blakely High School with Mary Jane following in 1963, both voted Most Talented in their graduating class. Time nor distance ever kept them apart. She at Troy State College, he at George C. Wallace Technical School, sending letters across the miles, each one of love and devotion steadfast throughout their 57 years of marriage. Al was an active member of the Men’s Sunday School Class, First United Methodist Church, and volunteered with Mary Jane as Mr. and Mrs. Santa Clause during Christmas. He was a member and past master of Magnolia Lodge #86, member of the Blakely Shrine Club and Hasan Temple, and played the bugle as part of the Blakely Drum & Bugle Corps which raised money and support for the Shriners Hospitals for Children and Burn Institutes across the nation. A U.S. Army veteran, avid outdoorsman, marksman, fisherman, animal lover, and nonstop storyteller, he loved every second of every day especially those spent with friends. He was a kind and loving father letting his daughters know every day, even his last on earth, that they were cherished and forever loved. But his greatest love was Mary Jane - his soul, his life, his existence. The day before his death, he visited her graveside still awaiting her tombstone with the words he chose for it, “She was my lady. She was my love.” Life and death could only separate them for three months, but now for eternity they are together. In addition to his beloved wife, he is preceded in death by his brother, Rev. Bill Warrick and survived by two daughters, Eve (Bubba) Wall and Patricia Warrick of Atlanta, and two grandchildren; Ben Wall and Anna Wall. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 4, 2023, at 2 p.m., First United Methodist Church of Blakely, 397 College St, Blakely, GA 39823. The family will host a reception following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to: Shriners Hospitals for Children https://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/ (Enter evewall@bellsouth.net under “Recipient's email” for notification of your gift to the family) To give by mail: Shriners Hospitals for Children PO Box 947765 Atlanta, GA 30394 To give by phone: 855-401-4897 American Humane Society https://www.americanhumane.org/ (Enter evewall@bellsouth.net under “Recipient's email” for notification of your gift to the family) To give by mail: American Humane 1400 16th Street NW, Suite 360 Washington, DC 20036 To give by phone: 1-866-242-1877