George Severn Werness passed away on Sunday, February 26. Werness moved to Turlock in 1976. 

Educated at UC Santa Barbara (Ph.D., 1973), he taught Philosophy at Texas State University, Lubbock; Creighton University, Omaha; CSU Stanislaus, Turlock; Columbia College, Sonora; and Merced Community College, Merced.

Werness also spent 20+ years farming almonds and dedicated his life to helping animals. 

In the late 1970s, he was instrumental in getting the decompression chamber method of euthanasia out-lawed in California. 

In 1982 he and his family founded All Creatures Humane Society, a non-profit dedicated to sheltering and adopting dogs, cats, and equines. All Creatures participated in burro adoptions (from Death Valley and China Lake) and Andalusian goat rescue (from San Clemente Island). Additionally, the Society focused on purchasing horses and burros at auction to keep them from going to slaughter. Hundreds of horses, burros, and goats were saved and the Society continues to shelter a population of aging animals in Turlock.

He is survived by his daughter Maline Werness-Rude and her family and his wife Hope.

Remembrance to be held at Turlock’s Carnegie Art Center (250 N. Broadway, Turlock) on Sunday, April 2 at 2:00 PM. No flowers please; donations to your favorite charity are welcome. Condolences can be left at www.allenmortuary.com.