Joyce S George

Joyce S (Cooksley) George

George, Joyce S (Cooksley) departed this life on February 25, 2026, in Boulder, at the age of 93. She was born on December 12, 1932, at Saint Francis Hospital, to the late Ralph and Helen Cooksley, and was predeceased by her elder sister, Constance Callahan.

Joyce graduated from Hartford Public High School, Class of 1951, and went on to study at Pratt Institute in New York City. She returned to Hartford in 1954 and, in 1958, married Joseph Irvine George. Together they raised five children in West Hartford, where family life, church, and community formed the center of their early years. Joe died in 1986.

Joyce began her professional career at The Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford, as Assistant to the Dean of Academic Affairs, where she also deepened a lifelong love of choral music, classical music, and opera. She later pursued a second career in New York City at Svenska Handelsbanken, first as Executive Assistant to the General Manager and later as Vice President of Human Resources and Staff Development.

After retiring in 1998, Joyce lived in Paonia, CO, Great Barrington, MA, and Brooklyn, NY, before returning to Boulder, CO, where she spent her final years at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

A lifelong learner, Joyce pursued intellectual and spiritual growth with dedication. She embraced contemplative practice and non-dual philosophy, bringing intensity and curiosity to her inner life as she had to every outward endeavor. Those closest to her understood that one of her deepest journeys was from the certainties of the mind toward the openness of the heart. She cherished extended time with family and friends, often traveling between loved ones for months at a time, with cultural outings and spiritual exploration woven naturally into those visits.

Joyce is survived by her five children: daughters Mary George and Sarah Garrison (Kelly Garrison), of Boulder; Elizabeth Barker (Paul Barker), of Yorkshire, England; and sons Christopher George (Renee LaChance), of West Hartford, and Joseph George (Sherry Corwin), of Charlotte. She also leaves ten grandchildren: Lauren Barker, Elliott Laquerre Barker (Melissa), Jake George (Tasha), Chance George, Lily George, Nick George, Maddy George, Gigi George, Isabella Garrison, and Katie Garrison.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to benefit AFTD, a charity close to Joyce’s heart, chosen because her eldest daughter, Mary, was diagnosed with early onset dementia. Joyce spent her last days putting in place ways to support Mary, and by supporting the charity you honor Joyce and bring hope to others affected by Frontotemporal Degeneration, (FTD).

DONATE IN MEMORY OF JOYCE