Obituary of George F. Hemphill

George F. Hemphill, of Madison, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at Pine Acres in Madison. He was 86.

George was born on December 15, 1931 in Port Glasgow, Renfrewshire, Scotland to the late James and Elizabeth Fulton Hemphill.  In 1956 he and his beloved wife, the late Joan Josephine Hemphill (nee McQuilkin) were married.  In 1957 George arrived in Newark in order to secure a career and provide for his young family who he moved to the US in 1958. The couple settled in Kearny where they raised their beautiful family.  George was a bricklayer for many years with Union Local 1, Bricklayers and Allied Craftsman, of Long Island City, NY. He had tremendous pride in his work and was honored when he received his 50-year pin from the Union in 2008.

Later in life, George and Joan moved back to Scotland where they retired.  When Joan passed away on April 26, 2007, George made the decision to move back to the US to be closer to his family.  He moved to the Chateau Thierry Senior Citizen’s Building in Madison where he made many good friends.  George was a lifelong soccer fan and played in a semi-pro league in his younger years back in Scotland.  He was also proud when he received his American citizenship.

George leaves behind his two sons, James Hemphill of the UK & George Hemphill of Carlstadt; three daughters, Dorothea Maxwell of Morristown, Joan Marie Hemphill of Montclair & Mary Anne Wright and her husband, Scott, of Great Falls, VA; one dear sister, Martha Ann Heaton of Keyport; 13 cherished grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00AM on Thursday, April 19, 2018 at St. Vincent Martyr RC Church in Madison. Cremation will be held privately and his remains will be entombed in Scotland with his wife at a later date.  Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend a visitation to celebrate George’s life from 4:00PM to 8:00PM on Wednesday at the Madison Memorial Home, 159 Main Street, Madison.

Condolences to the family may be made online by visiting our website at www.madisonmemorialhome.com