Obituary for George Lee Rainey, Sr. of Charlotte, NC 
September 25, 1939 - September 2, 2022 

On Friday, September 2, 2022, George Lee Rainey, loving husband, father and friend to many, passed away at age eighty-two. He was born on September 25, 1939 in Littleton, NC. He was the son of Harvey Lee and Sara McCotter Rainey. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Diana Rainey, son, George Lee Rainey, Jr. of Charleston, daughter, Susan Rainey Pasko, and her husband, Mark, of Charlotte, NC and their daughters, Madison Lin and Ella Rainey Pasko as well as his sister, Elizabeth Rainey Merrill and husband Cliff of Raleigh, NC.

For 35 years, Lee was a salesman for Vanguard Furniture, Classic Leather, and Fremarc Designs. He was the embodiment of everything positive about a true salesman. He was empathetic, honest, gregarious, resilient, and charming. He possessed a boundless sense of humor; he always had a joke at the ready. Most of the time they were wildly inappropriate.

He was irreverent, kind, and very thoughtful. Lee always had a joke ready for anyone who would listen. He gave total acceptance to everyone and never said a negative word about anyone. Diana said it best, "He was one of a kind." He went out of his way to be kind. He regularly exited the pew to reach out to fellow parishioners. When his daughter’s friends were diagnosed with cancer, he sent many personal notes to each. He brought his daughter a pumpkin every Halloween-wherever she was- until Susan’s daughters were old enough to enjoy the tradition. He loved to ride his bike (and ring the bell!), and deliver flowers to whoever popped into his mind. His basic words of wisdom were, "Let go and let God."

After retirement he enjoyed storytelling and attending festivals. His favorite audience was in the classrooms of his granddaughters, Madison and Ella. He also enjoyed Saturday trips for breakfast and pedicures with Madison and bike rides and trips to the used bookstore with Ella. No Grandaddy was prouder or more hands on.

Source of Obituary: Trubute and Tallent Funerals & Cremations, Charlotte