George F. Horton

George Frederick Horton, IV, a 64 year-old, native Houstonian, died in his home, Saturday, September 24, 2011, after a prolonged battle with heart disease. George was born on July 24, 1947 in Houston to George F. Horton, III, and June Schmidt Horton. He attended the Kinkaid School throughout elementary and junior high school, graduated from Memorial High School. George also attended Texas A&I University and the University of St Thomas, where his friends Timmy Yeager, George O’Brien John, Al Braden and many others co-founded a campus fraternity, Kappa Mu Alpha. George’s business career began with the family company, Horton and Horton Building Materials started by his grandfather in the early 1900’s. At age 15 he was riding his bike to the Katy Road Concrete Plant doing manual labor. When the company was sold in 1978 he was purchasing agent and credit manager. By 1983 George and Anna had restored a Victorian home in Bellville, Texas. They opened a small bed and breakfast, The High Cotton Inn, later delving into the manufacturing and marketing of all natural cookies and Aunt Gracie’s popular butter rum cakes at Christmas. The company was eventually sold in 2000 following a sudden decline in George’s health; he retired to New Braunfels, Texas where he could watch white tail deer from his bedroom and foxes out his living room window. Every summer starting in 1953, George, his family and many, many friendsshared the fun and adventure of Baca Ranch outside of Pecos New Mexico. Baca was a group of historic rustic log cabins in the Pecos Wilderness known for it's fly fishing, it had only a generator for power (untilDad went to bed and turned it off) and gravity fed plumbing pumped directly from Cow Creek. It was a place for telling stories and tales, enjoying hummingbirds and sunsets on the front porch of the Big Cabin overlooking Cow Creek with friends and drinks. His happiest times were spent there, in the mountains, surrounded by his family, his friends, his "Couzins by the Dozens," and nature. George leaves behind his wife of 39 years, Anna Sellens Horton; his only child, Dr. Campbell Horton Sullivan; son-in-law, Ryan Sullivan; and adored granddaughter, Beatrice Sewall Sullivan. He is survived by his younger brothers Charles and Robert Horton, sister Grace Horton Olmos, and their respective families. A memorial service is scheduled at 1PM Saturday, Oct 1, 2011, at his home. The family wishes to thank Dr. Elizabeth Ritchey and staff, Dr. Stephen Carrey, Dr. Emily Briggs, the caregivers from The Med Team, especially Sandra Harrington, and finally to all our friends and neighbors