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Georgia Ellen McCollum On Monday, August 11th, 2020, Georgia, our beloved mother, selflessly devoted grandmother, and great-grandmother, G.E.M. of a friend, Christ-following mentor, and eternal sunshine passed away. Georgia, a leader and encourager from birth, entered the world on December 12th, 1940 in Ogden, Utah. Growing up in Boulder City emboldened her early accomplishments. She was the mother of three children; Roger, Steve, and Jacqueline. She savored living in the desert and she deeply cherished her relationships that she forged in high school. She prized her early childhood memories of exploring, learning, laughing, and perspective building with her big brother Will. She revered participating in the historic preservation of the Hoover Dam. She served on the City Council for Boulder City, she led her Boulder High School Class reunions, and she enriched Boulder City's tourism industry by owning Desert Sands Pottery & Gift Shop locally. Georgia was entrepreneurial and diligent in all of her Boulder City municipal accomplishments. After raising her three children into adulthood, Georgia lived in her dream home overlooking Lake Mead in the mid-nineties, which served as a family oasis. Later in life, Georgia lived in three different states to be near her grandchildren. To say that "we miss our Georgia" is an understatement -- pieces of our hearts departed with her as she entered this next chapter of her life, eternity with her maker. While we are filled with peace knowing that she is with God, the void that follows the loss of her larger-than-life presence rattles her three surviving generations. Today, we remember her boisterous laughter, intoxicating charisma, unbridled joy, and jaw-droppingly gorgeous brown-eyed smile. We believe that Georgia is singing in Heaven the hope-filled lullaby she sung beautifully while holding us tight as children, "You are my sunshine, you are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray, you'll never know how much I love you." Georgia's adventurous spirit was unparalleled. Her rainbow-spectrumed energy, infectious joy, and agape characteristic encouragement are once-in-a-lifetime. She lit up every room, reversed all sorrows, encouraged our youthful desires, supported our fragilities, sharpened us as iron sharpens iron, and imparted thousand-year-old wisdom that could re-shape even the most stagnant of establishments. For Georgia, nothing was impossible. She was a dreamer and her legacy will be carried through all of our lifelines. It is impossible to capture a person like Georgia in an obituary, and especially someone whose life was defined by family, excellence, and blessing. To most, Georgia was a best friend - to her family, she was the most generous mother and grandmother. What a loss this is for us but Georgia's legacy is eternal. She was intelligent, warm, fearless, pioneering, resourceful, and resilient. She could and would talk to anyone, and when you were in her company you wanted to stay forever. Growing up in a society that seemed to have set many obstacles forward against young women pursuing leadership roles and academic accolades, she persevered and put her best foot forward in everything that she did. She was adored as a daughter, sister, friend, mother, and grandmother, and being loved by Georgia was a constantly astonishing gift. Georgia's legacy is continued by her beloved children, Roger McCollum, Steve McCollum, and Jacqueline DeGideo; her brother Will Julian; and her seven grandchildren, Danielle Cheney, Luke McCollum, Jessica Huey, Sara Narey, Ana Fass, Kelsey DeGideo, and Coleman DeGideo. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Tails of Hope Dog Rescue. Donations can be made via their website: happidogrescue.com. Services will be held Saturday, August 22, 2020, 9:00 am, at Boulder City Municipal Cemetery, 501 Adams Blvd, Boulder City, NV, 89005.
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Published in Boulder City Review from Aug. 20 to Aug. 27, 2020.
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Karen Rosenbaum (McClinton) (1958)
Georgia was my grade-school pal, one day older than I. I remember her brown pigtails and cheerful, round face. We had such fun together. Once, she dragged me to a closet to see a large picture of a nude woman. Her father found us and reprimanded us. "People don't understand this is art," he said. We were appropriately chastized. Love to her children and grandchildren and her brother Will, Karen Rosenbaum
Shirley Olson (Bradley) (1958)
Georgia lived right around the corner from me for several years - I loved to stop and listen to her play the piano when I passed her house. So talented! She and I went on a date together - it was a blind date for me and I was so surprised by the whole thing. I think it was in our sophmore year and I don't know where she met the two guys. All the years I had known her she was so shy. But it turned out to be fun. We both kept it a secret though. Georgia was born one day before me and on her birthdays I always reminded her that she was the older one. Georgia was a friend to all. My condolences to her brother and family. She will be missed by all.
Ed Uehling (1958)
It seems like we were in 5th or 6th grade when Georgia Julian was brought into our classroom after the school year had begun, because she had proved herself too advanced for the grade that corresponded to her birthdate. To my amazement she didn't waste one day in keeping up with the exceptional students of our class (Scott, Karvel, Stan, Bob, Richard and, later, Barbara) up to the day in 1958 that we graduated. In addition to being smart, she was witty, happy, friendly and observant and caring to the point of giving me the most memorable birthday gift of my life: 100 postage stamps! She had somehow learned that I was writing chambers of commerce all over the country to request maps and brochures and gave me a huge boost in my reach around the county. I still think that only Georgia possessed the insight and initiative to think of and get that present for me.
Later in life she mesmorized and inspired me with her knowledge of politics and determination to succeed in business and real estate. My partner and I loved visiting her at her store on Boulder Highway and her home in Henderson. I also had the unique good fortune of visiting with her and her daughter's (Jackie) super-energetic family in Gig Harbor, Washington. Her wit and smarts will always be part of my life--in memory more than in execution, unfortunately for me.
Barbara Bates (Severson) (1958)
I first met Georgia when I moved to Boulder City in the seventh grade and we have been friends all these many years. We never lost contact, always got together when I visited BC and my husband and I visited her in Gig Harbor, Henderson and Memphis (Collierville). Our friendship was "explained" on a greeting card that I recently read which said on the outside "We will always be friends" and on the inside "Because you know too much!" In many ways our lives ran parallel which gave us a lot to share through the years starting in Junior Hi. The only time that I cut class was when Georgia, being more adventurous than I, said we should go to her house instead of our next class because her mother had just made fresh bread and no one was home! I can almost taste that warm bread with butter to this day! We would often get together on Sunday afternoons to shoot baskets or I would bring my saxophone over and Georgia would play the piano. The Julians were so kind--never did they ask me to leave! Later in my life, Georgia taught me what true friendship is about as I faced some difficult times and Georgia always had my back. One Christmas while living in Cheyenne, Wyoming I was going to be absolutely alone. At the last minute I was able to get a red eye flight to Vegas but I needed a ride to Boulder at 2 AM in the morning and guess who was waiting for me at the gate? Yes, my friend Georgia! Years later when it was time to liquidate my parents belongings in order to place their house on the market, I was having a "garage" sale. When Georgia walked into the house, she said, "You have a migraine headache. Go lie down in the back bedroom. I'll take care of this." And she did! That was my friend Georgia--smart, capable, caring, fun to be with, clever, adventurous, and the best friend anyone could have. I will always miss her dearly.
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