Barbara J. George

Barbara Jean George passed away after a short illness on June 23, 2024. Barb was born on January 31, 1944, in Rockford Illinois.  Barb lived in Rockford, IL, Harrison, IL and Roscoe, IL. She lived for over 16 years in Chandler, AZ and then retired and returned to Roscoe, IL to be closer to family and local friends.  Barb married the love of her life, Thomas (Tom) George on November 25, 1961 in Beloit, WI. They were happily married for over 62 years. When Barb was in high school she and Jim Visger were high school sweethearts. The fall after Tom graduated, Tom ran into Barb at the Roscoe Fall Festival and when he found out she and Jim weren't together anymore, Tom followed her around like a puppy dog, then and for the next 64 years.

Barb went to Hononegah High School. She then went to Alberto’s Institute of Cosmetology. She was a hair stylist for over 40 years.  While living in Arizona, she loved growing roses. She had over a dozen bushes. She didn't have luck here in Illinois though. Yellow roses were her favorite.

Growing up she was a member of the Owen Blue Bonnets 4-H club where she learned to sew. She would sew clothes for people before she began her career as a hairstylist. She sewed clothes, especially dresses, for her granddaughter Jaydyn. She likes to do Word Search puzzles on her tablet. She and Jaydyn loved to do the puzzles together and steal words from each other. She loved to crochet and knit. She would make dishcloths, hats and beautiful baby blankets.

What she loved most was her family and friends. Barb didn't know it at the time, but one minute before she was born, in the same hospital, one of her best friends was born. She would meet Diana Hoover in Junior High and discover they were “twins” of the heart. Her Sophomore year, she transferred to Hononegah and met another lifelong friend, Char Cox, when she was the first person to talk to her and made her feel welcome. In high school she would also meet lifelong friends, Judy and Jim Visger. She had many friends that she considered one of her best friends and loved them all very much.

She is survived by her husband, Tom George; son, Jeff (Cathy) George; daughter, Debbie George; grandchildren, Matt (Kat) George and Jaydyn Stroud. She absolutely adored her two great-granddaughters, Charlotte and Lilith George. She is also survived by her sister, Connie (John) Jersild; brothers, Tom (Ginger) Severson and Gregg (Natalie) Severson; sisters-in-law, Cookie Severson and Linda Earleywine; several nieces, nephews, cousins and great-nieces and great-nephews; and her beloved fur baby, Barney.

She is predeceased by her parents, Marion and Lorraine Severson; father and mother-in-law, Donald and Helen George; brother, Jerry Severson I; brothers-in-law, Bob Earleywine, Donald George and Dennis Hall; and her ex-son-in-law, Chris Stroud.

A visitation will be held Tuesday, July 2, 2024, from 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM in Honquest Family Funeral Home-Roscoe Chapel, 11342 Main Street, Roscoe, IL 61073. The funeral service will take place at 2:00 PM, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, also in the funeral home.  Burial will immediately follow at Roscoe Cemetery.

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