George Othy Briner, beloved husband of Jody Kent Briner, passed away on August 31, 2026, at the age of 91.

George was born on February 17, 1935, in Oregon, Missouri, the fourth of ten children born to Edith (Doty) Briner and Lewis O. Briner. After high school, George served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. Following his service, he graduated with honors from Northwest Missouri State University and earned his master’s degree from Oklahoma State University. He worked as a teacher, counselor, and school administrator in Colorado Springs.

George’s passion for climbing led him to the summits of all 54 of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks, as well as Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa. His wife, Jody, joined him on 48 of the 54 Colorado fourteeners, and they renewed their wedding vows on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Jody and George shared a love of travel and adventure, visiting 66 countries and hiking and climbing in most of them. He was an avid birdwatcher, a passionate reader, and a volunteer at Grand Valley Catholic Outreach. He was a member of Kappa Delta Pi, The American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, the National Audubon Society, and the Mt. Herman Lions Club.

George was preceded in death by his former wife, Nora Elliot, and six siblings. He is survived by his wife, Jody Kent Briner; his children, Amy Richards (Brad Richards), Brad Briner, and Beth Briner; his stepchildren, Douglas Kent (Ayse Kent) and Shannon Christine Kent; his daughter-in-law, Andrea Briner; his siblings, Sandra Heiman (Fred Heiman), Govenor Briner, and Penny Auffert (Larry Auffert); his grandchildren, Neal Richards (Emery Richards), Jennifer Rossi (Andrew Rossi Jr.), Paul Richards-Kuan (Karyn Richards-Kuan), Hannah Briner, Amber McCarthy (Shaun McCarthy), Nathan Briner, and Grayson Smith (Lauryn Ryan); his step grandchildren, Dhilan Maholtra, Declan Maholtra, Ayden Kent, and Ayla Kent; and his great-grandchildren, John Richards, Nora Richards, Theoden George Rossi, and Ryder Rossi.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on September 11, 2026, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Grand Junction, Colorado. Military funeral honors will be held at 3 p.m. on September 17, 2026, at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Grand Valley Catholic Outreach.