The memorial service for Georgia Barbour will be held at the Gillette Memorial Chapel on Saturday, October 16, at 2 p.m., with Pastor Gordon Harper serving.
He is buried in the Pisgah cemetery. The tour will take place on Friday, October 15, 2021 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Gillette Memorial Chapel.
Georgia Lee (Pulse) Barbour, 91 from Gillette, lovingly known as Mother, Grandma, GG and Boss Lady, found her peace on angel wings on Sunday, October 3, 2021.
Born January 27, 1920 in Laramie, Georgia, the fifth of six children of Carl F and Vernie (Marsh) Puls. She spent her early years at the old Puls house, where she worked with her siblings in the fields and in the stable before and after school. Most of their stories weren’t about how hard the work was back then, but more about how much fun they had when the weekend work was done. These six kids were having so much fun that they usually got into trouble with their parents. She always had a good laugh when sharing some of the antics, but she was strict that her own children should not try to get away with the same thing.
Georgia married Melvin E. Lynch in Laramie in 1947. This connection resulted in four children: Linda (1948), Billie (1950), Carl (1952) and Margie (1955). Mel and Georgia moved to Gillette in 1950, where Mel began his 27-year career as a County Agricultural / 4-H agent and Georgia was able to stay home with the children.
After the divorce, Georgia married Ralph Barbour in 1973 and moved to the country 22 miles north of Gillette. This was the home that she loved very much. After Ralph’s unexpected death in 1990, Georgia stayed in the country and continued to work with her “other son” Jimmy Williams. Although it broke her heart at the time, Georgia decided to run a farm auction and moved to town in 2005. She missed life on the ranch forever, but the frequent return of friends and family made the move worthwhile eventually.
In 2019, Georgia took a step that she wasn’t prepared for. Georgia went to Legacy Living for rehabilitation due to a hospital stay and a necessary surgery the day before her 90th birthday party. With the long-term care facility impact of COVID-19 and other setbacks, Georgia stuck with Legacy Living.
She made the most of her new environment by making new friends, joking with staff, and giving them hard times every now and then. They became her family there, but she firmly believed she would go home – she had things to put away.
While it is difficult to say goodbye to a parent – even at 91 3/4 years of age – we are grateful for the legacy and tremendous memories she has left us. We could write an entire book, but instead chose to share some of these memories in brief thoughts. If you have been blessed to have Georgia in your life, you will remember some of these qualities and will reflect the time and place of memory.
When we were younger: She made us a hot breakfast every day before school, cold cereal was a weekend treat, along with watching cartoons. She was an active 4H director teaching club members how to sew and cook, she was a member of the Stitch and Skillet housewives club, she worked at Hunter’s Drug and then at Corner Drug’s soda fountain where she became a familiar face to many, ours School friends became their “other children”.
What she enjoyed: Singing (in the church choir, at home, at weddings and funerals, anywhere, anytime), dancing, whistling (it had the sweet sound of a bird), listening to old country songs and hymns, feeding the squirrels and birds everybody Tag, Rosen, keeping in touch with friends and family by texting or talking on the phone (she had no computer and texting use … it was too impersonal), embroidery and painting by numbers on black velvet, road trips to Deadwood, to play the slot machines for an afternoon (claimed she always played in “her” quarters and carried them in a small bag when she left).
What she loved: All aspects of country life, hard work, long days, short nights calving to pray for moisture without hail, the smell of freshly turned earth in the field, working by Ralph’s side whenever she could, the wildlife and the view from their front porch.
Holidays: EVERYONE and she had at least one decoration for everyone. Christmas and Thanksgiving were her favorites as it meant family and a lot more decoration.
Hunting season and hunting camp; it was a stand-alone event that she looked forward to every year! She and Ralph hosted family and friends from home and abroad every October. Whether lucky or unlucky in the field, what mattered most were the bonds and camaraderie that arose on those days of the hunt. Georgia knew how to cook for large crowds and always had a crowd gathered around the table for hearty meal and lively conversation at the end of the day. If the hunt was successful, we clinked glasses with a “Wyoming Gut Shot” (peach schnapps and cranberry juice), lovingly named after those whose shot was a little off.
If the hunt is unsuccessful, we still toast to better luck the next day. The end of the hunting camp was a game grill in the shop. It was always a good time, but bittersweet, to say goodbye until next year. After Ralph’s death, Georgia continued to house the hunters until she moved to town. All of these hunters, by blood or not, became our families and will remain families no matter where they are. You have left a whole chapter of eternal memories in our whole life.
What she valued most in life was first and foremost her FAMILY. The love for their children was unsurpassed and only grew stronger and increased with the birth of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They filled her heart with such joy that her face lit up with love when one of them walked into the room. The grandchildren all had a good time with their grandmother Georgia and especially enjoyed the adventures when she lived in the country. She was very proud and always supported everything that she achieved as a teenager and as an adult.
The great-grandchildren called her GG and there was no sweeter song in her ear than hearing her call her name. She loved reading and playing with them when they were little and as they got a little older she never got tired of listening to what they were doing, whether it was about activities and sports, how school was going, She wanted to take in what her parents were doing or what they were doing on the weekend at any moment. She was her biggest fan and they all filled her with deep pride and joy.
This pure joy and love was in her room when she was finally able to touch and talk to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her wishes were fulfilled and she had the opportunity to say goodbye.
Georgia leaves behind her children: Linda Lynch, Billie Mandeville, Carl Lynch, and Margie (Michael) Von Flatern; Grandsons Mike Dorr, Travis (Sarah) Dorr, Brad Mandeville, and BJ (Brett) Mandeville; Great-grandchildren Aidan Dorr, Reese Dorr, Elli Dorr and Avery Dorr. They also survive many nieces and nephews, stepchildren Steve (Dee Dee) Barbour and their families, Gayle (Kaye) Nanneman and their families, Tom (Linda) Barbour and their families, and Judy (Rich) Lynde and their families.
Georgia precedes her husband Ralph in death; Son-in-law Bud Mandeville granddaughter Dani Mandeville; Stepdaughter Ginny Nanneman; Stepdaughter Georgia Barbour; their parents; all of their siblings and their spouses.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests building memorials for the benefit of YES House or City of Gillette Animal Shelter. Expressions of condolences and condolences may be sent to Gillette Memorial Chapel, 210 W. Fifth St.t, Gillette, WY 82716.
This paid obituary was provided by family and friends.
