E. Shirley George

E. Shirley George

Contoocook, NH - E. Shirley (Woodard) George, 88, of Contoocook, died peacefully July 25, 2025, at Hillsboro House in Hillsboro after a long illness. She was born on November 4, 1936, in Franklin, the daughter of John and Eva (Tilton) Woodard and was the wife of Bruce C. George, predeceased in December 2011. They were married in November 1957.

Shirley attended Tilton-Northfield High School and went on to study at Plymouth Teachers College. Her profession as a substitute teacher at Maple Street Elementary School and devoted Teaching Aid at Harold Martin Elementary School encompassed over 25 years for the Hopkinton School District. She lived in Contoocook for most of her life and was a member of Contoocook United Methodist Church. She volunteered at the Methodist Church fair booth at the Hopkinton Fairgrounds where her annual specialty was also providing home-made Boston baked beans for the menu. She was active in the community PTA and supported local youth as a Cub Scout den mother.

As a lover of music and dance, she and her husband learned ballroom dance. Together they seized every opportunity to indulge their recreational passion for enjoying both, often attending local community dances with friends. She indulged her lifelong passions for arts & crafts by taking classes to learn calligraphy, pottery making, painting, pastels, stenciling, decoupage, making lampshades, and numerous sewing projects. She was proud of her creative endeavors and applied her inventive skills to everyday household assistive pursuits.

A devoted wife and mother, she was a kind and empathetic person: eventually fully dedicating herself to the extraordinary in-home care of her husband during the long-time illness preceding his passing. She was also predeceased by her firstborn child: son, Carleton George of New Hampshire.

Shirley is survived by her three sons: Brian George of Concord; Dana George of San Francisco; and Kevin George and his wife, Kristie, of Manchester. She is also survived by her one granddaughter, Lisa and her wife, Katie; two step-grandsons, Christian, and Joshua; one step-granddaughter, Kristy; and nieces and nephews.

The family will receive visitors Thursday, July 31st 4:00-6:00pm at Phaneuf Funeral Homes & Crematorium, 175 King Street in Boscawen. She will be laid to rest at Contoocook Village Cemetery during a committal service privately attended by family. To view an online memorial, leave a message of condolence, or for more information please visit https://phaneuf.net/.