WESTON, W.Va. – Cardiac Rehab Registered Nurse, George Butcher, III, will be retiring from Mon Health Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Butcher joined the SJMH Family in January 2005 and was honored as an Employee of the Month in 2018. George received his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of North Carolina. Butcher explained that he chose a college in North Carolina because his family vacationed in the area and he loved the beach.

Although Butcher knew where he wanted to attend college, he didn’t choose his career path until his sophomore year at UNC. “I was in my sophomore year at college trying to decide what to do. I happened to see the offices for the School of Nursing and decided to go ask some questions. The director I spoke to kept me for an hour and said that I was the perfect person to go into nursing. This was in 1975 and there were no men in nursing,” Butcher said.  

“My mother was a nurse at Fairmont General and was surprised by my choice, but it is a choice I am so happy that I made,” Butcher added.

Nurse Manager, Kristi Gannon, noted, “As a nurse manager, I can say that George is the type of employee you want in your department. He is kind, caring, compassionate and always goes above and beyond. He makes our patients and staff feel special. He is a friend and a great storyteller. He found his calling in this world, he was meant to be a nurse.”

George explained that he has worked in several departments, but cardiac rehab is his favorite because he loves the patient care experience. “I love working with people and telling stories,” explained George. “Cardiovascular care has always interested me and so it was natural to work with cardiac patients in an outpatient setting.”

George has also expressed his loyalty to Stonewall Jackson Memorial over the past 15 years. He noted that in 2005, when he was taking care of his mother, he needed to find employment to be able to help her at night. He was interviewed at several area hospitals. However, Stonewall was the only facility offering Butcher a day shift.

“I stayed with Stonewall because they gave me a job when I needed it. I am loyal to this hospital because they gave me an opportunity. I will never forget that,” he concluded.

There will be a retirement reception held for Butcher on his birthday, Thursday, May 21, outside of the Cardiac Rehabilitation/Adult Fitness Department.

He is a Fairmont native and the son of the late Kathleen and George Butcher, Jr. He lives in Fairmont with his wife, Connie, a deputy clerk at the Marion County Courthouse.  The couple has three children – Joey Vessecchia, David Vessecchia and Sarah Vessecchia. They have two grandchildren – Anthony, 10 and Haiden, 14.