Catherine Rose George

Catherine Bush George passed away on Friday, December 28th, 2018 at the age of 81. She was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on June 5, 1937 to the late Oliver Bush, Sr. and the late Helen Cager Bush. Catherine Bush George is survived by her three sons: Lawrence “Bryan” (Genique) of New Orleans, Louisiana; Theron (Florence) of Bozrah, Connecticut and; Christopher (Jeannie) of Houston, Texas. Catherine leaves her three sisters to cherish her loving memories: Helen B. McMiller, Lorraine B. Hudson, Loretta B. Singleton (Norman, Jr.) and her two brothers: Earl (Shirley) and Leon Bush. Catherine is preceded in death by her late Husband of 56 years (Lawrence C. George), by her parents (Oliver and Helen Bush), her brothers (Oliver Jr., Leonard Sr., Donald and Edwin Bush) and her sisters (Ellen Franklin, Gayle Prevost and Venola Spurlock).

Catherine received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1959. She graduated from Joseph Samuel Clark High School in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1954. She married Lawrence at Battle Ground Baptist Church in Fazendeville Chalmette, Louisiana on September 5, 1959. Shortly after marriage, the young couple moved to St. Louis while Lawrence pursued his Masters Degree at St. Louis University. While working on his dissertation he received a job with the U.S. Bureau of Mines in the Metallurgical Research Center as a chemist. Life for that small town was never the same as their contributions were interwoven into the fabric of the community for the next 60 years.

Upon arrival, Lawrence and Catherine attended Elkins Methodist Church where they were active members. Catherine was a member of the governing board and taught Sunday School until 1981. Catherine and Lawrence joined Christ Church Episcopal that same year and have been active with that church community ever since.

Catherine was active in the community from the moment she arrived in Rolla. She was a member of the Episcopal Church Women, was the chair of Open Door Group that provided food to the needy, she was a delegate to the Missouri Diocese Convention where she met Bishop Desmond Tu Tu and his lovely bride. She participated in many organizations: member of the Board of Directors for Big Brothers/Big Sisters, volunteered at the Russell House (for battered women), participated in the INROADS program at the University of Missouri Rolla as the St Louis Liaison mentoring scholarship recipients, was an active member of the Optimist Club for Years (and was the Optimist of the Year) and was a founding member of the Rolla chapter of the NAACP and received the “Yes I Can Award” for her many contributions.

Queen Cat was the ultra Mother of The Epsilon Psi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity where she nurtured untold thousands of Alpha brothers and their families and friends, members of the University and Rolla communities, et al. Her famous homemade New Orleans style gumbo and iced tea pleasured palates and filled the stomachs of many for over 60 years. In recognition of those contributions, the Epsilon Psi brothers gave Lawrence and Catherine a two-week trip to West Africa where they visited Senegal, the Gambia and Mali (and the legendary city of Timbuktu) in 2001.

In 2009, Catherine descended onto Washington DC to observe the historic inauguration of President Barack Obama with her son and his spouse. Temperatures right below freezing wouldn’t stop this 71 year old as she walked the mall among approximately 2 million onlookers. She was an unstoppable force that will be greatly missed.