George "Wyatt" LeFever

George “Wyatt” LeFever, 90, passed away peacefully at his residence on Sunday, December 14, 2025. He was born on March 11, 1935, to the late Ruel LeFever and Evelyn Berry LeFever.

Wyatt was born in Lenoir, NC and married Dolores Kiger in 1956. They were married for 63 wonderful years until her passing in 2020. Together they raised three boys and founded Blue Ridge Fish Hatchery in 1960. For their 63 years together, Dolores and Wyatt were inseparable. The love and partnership they shared was an inspiration to everyone who knew them. She often said regarding their work together, “He has the dreams, and I make them happen.”

He was an avid nature lover and had a passion for horticulture and aquaculture, gaining wide acclaim in both fields. Blue Ridge was one of the first hatcheries to raise Japanese Koi in the U.S. With the help of his son Randy and brother Rick, they later developed the Butterfly Koi, which is now sold world-wide. Blue Ridge continues to be owned and operated by his grandsons, Casey and Josh LeFever

His “happy place” was the amazing shade garden near their home in which he spent much of his time cultivating plants from all over the world. Groups of gardening enthusiasts would come from far and wide to tour his gardens. He also hybridized day lilies, creating hundreds of unique varieties.

Many joy-filled summers were spent surrounded by friends and family at their “home away from home” at Lake Norman, where he taught all the kids to ski and drive the boat as well as other aquatic activities.

In addition to his parents, Wyatt is preceded in death by his loving wife, Dolores.

Surviving are his three sons, Randy and wife Karen, David and wife Shannon, and Lee and wife Sachi; nine grandchildren, Casey and wife Carla, Josh, Jimmy and wife Eliana, Jessi, Caroline and husband Justin, Shelby, Amy, Drew, Leah and husband Brenton; and four great-grandchildren, Adelaide, Rosemary, Finlee and Fisher.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Carmela Wood for her loving care and devotion during Wyatt’s last years.

A graveside service will be held at Mount Gur Cemetery in Kernersville, NC at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 20th, followed by a luncheon and celebration of life at his home at 12:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Shepherd Center, 431 West Bodenheimer Street, Kernersville, NC 27284.