Wrangell Sentinel -

George Patton Mann, 74, died November 16, 2015, in Opelika, Ala.

He was born in Birmingham, Ala., on December 27, 1940.

George graduated from Baylor High School in Chattanooga, Tenn., in 1960 where he was a star athlete. George continued his education at Auburn University and received his bachelor's degree in business in 1964.

After graduation, he went on to work for Opelika Welding, Inc., a family owned company. He retired in 1999 as the owner and president. 

George is internationally known for his expertise in wildlife and conservation. He received the honor three times of being the Alabama Wildlife Conservationist of the year. He was also inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. George had the pleasure of taking numerous people to kill their first deer and/or turkey. 

He was preceded in death by father, George Calloway Mann, and mother, Rosemary Patton Mann, of Opelika, Alabama, and two sisters Madeline Mann and Gloria Askew.

Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Lucretia Yoe, who was a native of Talladega, Ala.; two daughters and their spouses, Sandy and Ricky Scott Brown of Opelika, and Luanne Mann and Chau Nguyen, of Fresno, Calif.; one son and daughter-in-law, Caroline and George Earl Mann, of Auburn, Ala.; five grandchildren, Jacob Ellington Brown, Patton Mann Brown, Rosemary Cook Mann, George Thompson Mann and Sarah Cosby Calloway Mann; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, December 27, at the Mann Wildlife Learning Museum at the Montgomery Zoo in Montgomery, Ala.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The Mann Wildlife Learning Museum, First United Methodist Church of Opelika or Haddie's Home.