Hester M. George

Our mother, Hester M. George went to be with her Lord on Monday, November 2, 2020.

A private family graveside service will be held at Oak Hill Cemetery.  Memorials are suggested to Campbell Chapel A.M.E. Church and may be left in care of Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home with whom final care has been entrusted.  A Celebration of Life service will be held in June, 2021.

She was born in Cleveland, Arkansas, the daughter of Jessie Ashford and Leo Salsberry, on June 20, 1935. Her grandfather Lester Ashford (Papa) raised her. She attended and graduated from Atchison High School.

Mom began her employment doing various jobs in housekeeping and childcare. She went back to nursing school at age 42 and graduated with her LPN. She then worked at Cray Manor for 26 years.

Mom and Edwin L. "Skip" George were united in marriage on February 19, 1955, and resided in Atchison all of their married life until the passing of her beloved husband in 1997. In 1973, Hester and Skip purchased a home for their family on Millwood Drive, becoming the first Black family to live on the street. While their children were in school, Hester and Skip were regulars in the stands at Atchison High School sports events, where all their children participated in multiple sports.

A long and faithful member of the Campbell Chapel A.M.E. church, she served on several boards of the church: Usher Board, Steward Board, Financial Board and Missionary Board. She was also a member of the choir and a great fundraiser for the church.

In the 1960s, she helped found a scholarship fund through Citizens for Community Action that helped send generations of Black Atchison High School students to college. In 2016, she was honored as one of four surviving scholarship founders at a 50 ^th anniversary celebration.

After her retirement, Mom served as a volunteer "grandparent" for young children. She also served as a house mother for boarding students at Maur Hill. She traveled all over the country, including Hawaii. She was a dog lover all her life and usually had a dog as a companion, and once even adopted a cat.

Preceded in death by her late husband Edwin L (Skip) George; three sons, Edwin L (Skip Jr.) George, Larry Mackey and Charles Green; one brother, Harrison Ross, and one granddaughter, Angela Green.

Hester is survived by her daughters: Lorraine Rice, Chicago, Illinois; and Norma Jean Wallingford, Atchison, Kansas. Two sons: Jeff George (Michelle), Tampa, Florida; and Doyle George, Atchison, Kansas. Four sisters: Alma Ross, Blue Springs, Missouri; Edna Thornton (Bud), Casper, Wyoming; Clementine Ross, Casper, Wyoming; and LaShelle Gentry (Harold), Fresno, Texas. Four brothers: Robert (Bobby) Ross (Libby), Atchison, Kansas; John (June bug) Ross, Atchison, Kansas; Donnie Ross (Katy), Blue Springs, Missouri; and Dennis Ross (Denise), Hobbs, New Mexico. Twelve grandchildren: Kathryn, Alecia, Jeffrey Jr, Brandon, Edwin Michael, Andrea, Amanda, Caleb, Jeffrey Michael, Kristen and Aaron. Numerous great grandchildren.

Her soul sister Laura Kahl (Jim), Atchison, Kansas, and daughters Laurie (Kiki) Briggs (Dewitte), Reseda, California; Kristy Urman, Olathe, Kansas; Katy Yocom (Jeff), Louisville, Kentucky; and Kassie Fedrick, Lancaster, Kansas; and grandchildren Nick, Alaina, Brady and Lauren.

She had a host of friends in the community of Atchison, especially her neighbors.