George Earl Meese April 20, 1936 – March 6, 2024

Longtime Folsom resident George Meese, 87 years old, passed away on March 6, 2024. from heart failure at St Rose Hospital, in Henderson, Nevada. He had been a Nevada resident since 2002. He was born April 20,1936 in Oakland California to Edwin Meese, Jr., and Leone Feldman Meese. He was the fourth child born to Edwin and Leone after brothers Edwin, Myron, and Cliff. George grew up in Oakland attending Glenview Elementary School, Oakland High School, and graduated from Concordia College, Oakland, California.

Growing up, George was an active scout, a newspaper delivery boy, and a helper at the local gas station. His family life was full, and the family were faithful supporters of their church, Zion Lutheran, where George’s grandfather, Edwin Meese, Sr. was a founding member.  

After graduating from Concordia, George worked for the Berkley Buick Dealership in Berkeley, California as what he called a “grease monkey”. He also worked for the Contour Chair Company as a delivery driver and the City of Piedmont Recreation Department as an instructor.  The Berkeley Buick dealership encouraged his love of cars, and it became a lifelong love of the automobile. The first car he owned was delivered on his 16thbirthday. It was a 1937 Buick Special. During his lifetime George owned forty-four cars. Friends and family will tell you that he remembered the details of each auto.

George attended UC Berkeley before following in his grandfather’s and father’s footsteps into public service. His grandfather, Edwin Meese, Sr. was the City Treasurer for the city of Oakland and his father, Edwin Meese Jr., was the Tax Collector/Treasurer for Alameda County retiring after 40 years with the County. George started his first government job with Alameda County at the Oakland Municipal Court. After working there for several years, George was promoted to the Fremont Municipal Court and was later promoted to the Livermore/Pleasanton Court as the Court Administrator. 

George and Bella Henley Cayton were married in 1975, and George became a stepfather to Bella’s daughters Cynthia, Marsha, and Paris. The family moved to Pleasanton, California in 1975.

George worked at the Livermore/Pleasanton Court position until he was appointed by California Governor George Deukmejian in 1983 as the Director of the California Department of Motor Vehicles. George moved his family to Folsom California, a suburb of the state capitol Sacramento, the headquarters for the Department of Motor Vehicles.

He left the Department Director position in 1986 when Governor Deukmejian appointed him to the California Unemployment Insurance Board where he served as a member and Vice President. He was reappointed to the board for a third term by Governor Pete Wilson and he served until retiring in 1997.

George enjoyed retirement with his wife of 47 years, Bella. He spent many happy summers vacationing around California, Hawaii, and Puerto Vallarta. He traveled to Taiwan and Hong Kong and cruised to several locations visiting Mexico, Panama Canal, Columbia, Caribbean islands, and Puerto Rico.

After the girls were married and raising families, in 2002 he moved with Bella to Henderson, Nevada, a suburb of Las Vegas. They both became active in their community of Sun City Anthem. George served on committees, clubs and Service Organizations in his HOA  and worked as an Editor/Content Coordinator for a local magazine and a reporter for the TV station serving his community. 

George is survived by his wife Bella and brother Edwin Meese III, former US Attorney General and his wife Ursula; George’s daughters Cynthia Cayton, Marsha Demes and husband James, Paris Dye and husband Donald; Granddaughters Christalle Chambers,  Brittney Chambers;  Grandsons Devin Dye, David Dye:  and Great Granddaughters Kyla Chambers, Da’Nay Armstrong, and Aria Bridges: Nephews Michael Meese and wife Ramona, James Meese, Jeff Meese;  Nieces Dana Meese Mlikotin, and husband Marko, and Jennifer Meese. Cousins Margaret Ann Fritz, Frank Feldman and Barnard Johnson.

The Memorial Service for George will be held April 20, 2024 at 1:00 pm at Liberty Towers Church, 5132 Elkhorn Blvd., Sacramento, Ca  95842.

The Service will be broadcast live on April 20, 2024, at 1:00pm. To view the service, log on to Facebook.com/Bellameese for the live broadcast.

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