ForeverMissed
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This memorial website was created in memory of our loved one, George Headley, 95, born on November 3, 1918 and passed away on May 14, 2014. We will remember him forever.

A celebration of George's life will be held at "The Woods" 7420 County N  South Wayne, WI on June 21, 2014 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

The following obituary will run in the Monroe Times and Wisconsin State Journal.

Monona, WI - George Halsey Headley, age 95, passed away peacefully on Wednesday May 14, 2014 at Agrace Hospice in Fitchburg, WI. He was born November 3, 1918 in Akron, Ohio. He was the son of Lorenzo and Mary (Miller) Headley. He was a bombardier in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II. On March 14, 1942 he married Lois Marie Shepherd. George earned his Bachelor's degree at Akron University and his Master's Degree in Social Work through the G.I. Bill at Case Western Reserve University.His lifelong career was working within the child welfare system for abused and neglected children and he completed his career at Chapin Hall for Children in Chicago, IL. He and Lois enjoyed a very fulfilling retirement at their place (The Woods) outside of South Wayne, WI. His interests included his family, gardening, nature conservancy, camping, social justice and being an active Democrat.

George is survived by his loving wife of 72 years, Lois Headley - Monona, WI and his four children; Joyce Headley - Lowell MA, Chris (Jim) Yrigoyen - Dunedin, FL, John (Justine) Headley - Chicago, IL, Mary Sue (Maureen Ryan) Roberts - Madison, WI, and 10 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, and one brother, Jim Headley - Bloomingdale, IL.

A celebration of George's life will occur on June 21st at their home in South Wayne, WI. For further details and online condolences and memories please see the website forevermissed.com 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Agrace Hospice at www.agrace.org

Tributes

Leave a tribute
Kevin Shepherd
May 27, 2020
May 27, 2020
Uncle George,

I found your obit this evening; wish I had known of your passing I would have tried to fly back.

I hope you know that you are my favorite uncle. I loved you as a very young person, and I love you still today.

The visits with you and your family are still warm in my heart even after all these decades. 

Do you remember when I stowed away in your car trunk when you brought me back from a week-end visit and rode all the way to your home in the trunk? Then you had to take me back to my mom's place. Boy did I catch it. I think you stepped in to save my tail! I wanted to stay with you and Lois so bad when I was little. I was always excited when I would find out a visit was pending.

Family things were so skewed after Dad passed with the endless parade of stand-ins. The peace and calm, strength and caring, interest and openness I experienced when visiting you and Lois is etched in my soul.

Do you remember the Shepherd Family Reunion and you playing softball and kickin' back with us. I was the only representative of Jimmy's branch of the Shepherds that attended. All the Aunts and Uncles were still around. You were so relatable. Very cool.

I remember discovering that you ate your breakfast cereal with Milk and Coffee (together in the bowl) - You said something like you needed the calcium and really didn't like the taste of milk any more so you added coffee to cover it up. Yeah, pretty cool dude.

Thank you for your patience with the weird out of the blue phone calls when I was younger.

I think of you and Lois often.

With all my heart 'fair thee well - rest well with your Lord'

Kevin


(Joyce - Did you know I played trumpet & coronet in middle school. first chair even!)
Mary Sue Roberts
November 4, 2018
November 4, 2018
Dad would be proud to be 100. I miss he and Mom everyday. Every bit of nature reminds me of them. I am glad in a bittersweet way that they are not here to see the horrors happening in our country. We donated money to Tammy Baldwin in their name. They were so proud of her. And, as Dad would say, I could have spent the money on cigarettes and liquor. But I quit smoking which would have given him joy. I love you Mom & Dad and thank you for all the positive things you gave me and my kids and my wife and all you gave to this imperfect world.
Chris Yrigoyen
May 14, 2015
May 14, 2015
A year without you is frought with emotion. I love you and rely on your wisdom every day. My heart is heavy.
Joyce Headley
May 14, 2015
May 14, 2015
My Dad made an impact on everyone he met and interacted with. With Mom, they were my comfort and my inspiration. I think about them every day and feel their presence with me I really miss and love you Mom and Dad. Joyce
Joyce Headley
November 10, 2014
November 10, 2014
Happy Birthday Dad. I really miss you. Love, Joyce
cheryl angelone
June 21, 2014
June 21, 2014
To :Lois and Family,
It has been 54 years since I had the pleasure of meeting you Lois and George and your wonderful children at your family home in Berea , Ohio . Since then you have been my most sincere friends and George had been my mentor, without whose help I would not have made it to Michigan and pursued a social work career.
Rest in peace George may God rest your soul and give you Lois health and strength to enjoy the rest of her life.
Love,
Ramez
Chris Yrigoyen
June 19, 2014
June 19, 2014
My dad was a passionate man. He was passionate about his profession, politics, family; and above all else, passionately in love with our mom. In Dad's own words, "I really started to live when I married your mother." For the past few years, Mom, Dad, and I would discuss their "end of life" wishes. Each year the thoughts were a little different but, for Dad, there was one constant, "If this were my last day, I feel satisfied with my life. My life is complete." He was a wonderful father and one of my dearest friends. I will miss him every day.
Kristen Ault
June 13, 2014
June 13, 2014
Dear Lois & Family-
I read with regret about the passing of George. I remember him as a man of deep convictions and the courage to act on his beliefs. He treasured all of you and never failed to share news about the family.

Robert and I will smile and remember him when the bluebirds return and the whooping cranes fly over the house in the woods.

Our sincere sympathies for your loss.

Robert & Kris Ault
Kris is the former Youth Services Librarian at the Monroe Public Library
Joyce Headley
June 2, 2014
June 2, 2014
Dad was such a great father. Especially to me as a fiery tomboy in the '50's. He would throw the baseball to me as hard as I wanted and I would throw it back to him just as hard. I wanted to be strong like my Dad. He taught me to whistle through my fingers, and not be afraid to try anything We butted heads sometimes; we were both so strong-willed. He taught me to play the harmonica and bought me a cornet, the best of the line, for 300 dollars ,because the band director told him if I had a really good horn I could progress much further in the band.. We sang as a family, Dad's beautiful deep voice and Mom's lovely higher one,us four kids singing right along with them. I can't picture my Mom without my Dad. They were always "Mom and Dad" to us, like one strong loving entity. Dad taught us to appreciate music, the earth, the trees, the animals and especially the birds.. Mom and Dad were bird lovers. At one point at the woods, Dad had a little wild animal or bird, a grouse I think, who would come and sit by him on a log and they would commune. Now as a mother and a grandmother, the cycle of love goes on. I dream every night of my Dad He and Mom were so supportive. I can feel his presence now, and he will always be with me, my Dad. I loved him so.

From a poem by Maya Angelou. "I want to be a rainbow in the clouds."
Ride that rainbow Dad!

Joyce Headley, Lowell, Massachusetts
Debra Weible
May 31, 2014
May 31, 2014
We were privileged to live next door to George and Lois for a couple of years. George and Lois were so young at heart, in love, and still sincerely interested in politics, what we were reading and our travels. We had many interesting discussions. We will miss George walking around outside in his underwear, his swearing on the back porch while reading about "the republican enemy" and his lust for living.  George was a really good man.
Bill Headley
May 17, 2014
May 17, 2014
Remembering Uncle George at this time. He was very fortunate to live a long and full life with Lois and their four children. Wishing all peace and happy memories of Uncle George. Think of him every day and smile.

Your cousin in Texas...Bill
Andrea Beilke
May 16, 2014
May 16, 2014
A poem of the "Bluebird of Happiness" for nothing would make my grandpa happier than a bluebird:

And in the valley beneath the mountains of my youth,
lies the river of my tears.

As it wends its way to the ocean of my dreams,
so long ago they have gone.

And yet, if I were but to think anew, would these dreams evaporate in my mind and become the morning dew upon a supple rose whose beauty is enhanced with these glistening drops.

As the sun of life peeks o'er the mountains when youth was full.Then I must not supply this endless fountain that creates the river of my tears but look beyond those mountains where the bluebird of happiness flies.
Mary Sue Roberts
May 15, 2014
May 15, 2014
NATIVE AMERICAN PRAYER

THIS WAS READ TO GEORGE BY HIS WIFE LOIS HEADLEY

I give you this one thought to keep -
  I am with you still - I do not sleep.

 I am a thousand winds that blow,
    I am the diamond glints on snow,
 I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
   I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush,
  I am the sweet uplifting rush
   of quiet birds in circled flight.
  I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not think of me as gone -
   I am with you still in each new dawn.

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Recent Tributes
Kevin Shepherd
May 27, 2020
May 27, 2020
Uncle George,

I found your obit this evening; wish I had known of your passing I would have tried to fly back.

I hope you know that you are my favorite uncle. I loved you as a very young person, and I love you still today.

The visits with you and your family are still warm in my heart even after all these decades. 

Do you remember when I stowed away in your car trunk when you brought me back from a week-end visit and rode all the way to your home in the trunk? Then you had to take me back to my mom's place. Boy did I catch it. I think you stepped in to save my tail! I wanted to stay with you and Lois so bad when I was little. I was always excited when I would find out a visit was pending.

Family things were so skewed after Dad passed with the endless parade of stand-ins. The peace and calm, strength and caring, interest and openness I experienced when visiting you and Lois is etched in my soul.

Do you remember the Shepherd Family Reunion and you playing softball and kickin' back with us. I was the only representative of Jimmy's branch of the Shepherds that attended. All the Aunts and Uncles were still around. You were so relatable. Very cool.

I remember discovering that you ate your breakfast cereal with Milk and Coffee (together in the bowl) - You said something like you needed the calcium and really didn't like the taste of milk any more so you added coffee to cover it up. Yeah, pretty cool dude.

Thank you for your patience with the weird out of the blue phone calls when I was younger.

I think of you and Lois often.

With all my heart 'fair thee well - rest well with your Lord'

Kevin


(Joyce - Did you know I played trumpet & coronet in middle school. first chair even!)
Mary Sue Roberts
November 4, 2018
November 4, 2018
Dad would be proud to be 100. I miss he and Mom everyday. Every bit of nature reminds me of them. I am glad in a bittersweet way that they are not here to see the horrors happening in our country. We donated money to Tammy Baldwin in their name. They were so proud of her. And, as Dad would say, I could have spent the money on cigarettes and liquor. But I quit smoking which would have given him joy. I love you Mom & Dad and thank you for all the positive things you gave me and my kids and my wife and all you gave to this imperfect world.
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Chapin Hall in Chicago Illinois

February 16, 2023
by Rebecca Hulin
Good evening , my husband was at Chapin Hall when George was the head master in charge. He was there between 1970-1976. This saddens him that this is the only link that I have found to his past associated with that time of his life. George was a very memorable part of his time there.If you know of any thing associated with Chapin Hall during this time period between 1970-1976 or have any photos of George at Chapin Hall during these years please reach out through email. Many blessings and happy memories to your family. Looking for past memories for a Chapin Hall memory book. Keep God in your heart and love forever.

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