George Ann Danehower

George Ann Danehower, 83, peacefully passed away in her home, surrounded by family, on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022.

George Ann was born on Dec. 22, 1938, at her family’s home in Mandalay, in the center of the cotton fields of the Arkansas Delta. She was preceded in death by her parents, George I. and Donye (Edwards) Byrd; brother, Don Byrd; sister, Sue Chism; and her “second” mother, Ruth Jones.

She is survived by her husband, Chester Conrad Danehower, her friend, companion, and the love of her life. They were married for almost 65 years and had three loving daughters, Dana Liddon Baldwin, J. Lane (Bill) Muzzarelli and Georgie Byrd Kastelic, all of whom live in the Peoria, Ill., area. She is survived by her much loved grandchildren, William Muzzarelli, Toni (Josh) DeNap, Adam (Bridget) Baldwin, John (Hillary) Baldwin, Katie (Jordan) Greenway, and Anna Kastelic; and her great-grandchildren, Genevieve Muzzarelli, August and Addison Baldwin, Ellie DeNap and Noah (on the way), and Owen Greenway. She is also survived by her sister, Bobbie Britt Chism of Lumberton, N.C.

George Ann was a graduate of Bradley University. She was a museum educator at Lakeview Museum, an art gallery director at Bradley University, an artist, and an author. She served as a panelist reviewing grants for the Illinois Arts Council and was the recipient of two Kellogg Foundation Workshop scholarships to study at the Field Museum in Chicago. She attended art history classes at the Prado in Madrid, Spain. In 1981 she was selected as the Peoria YWCA Woman Leader in the Arts. In 1989 the Division of Museum Programs of the National University Continuing Education Association awarded her the Exemplary Program Award. In 1985 she served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Lakeview Museum.

As a member of the Junior League of Peoria she volunteered to manage Lakeview Museum’s Sales Rental Gallery where she focused on exhibiting work by Illinois artists. As a member of the Peoria Medical Society Alliance, she developed an archival program to conserve their historical materials. In 2008 the Alliance awarded her the Charlotte Barbour award for service. Prior to living in Peoria, she was a Girl Scout leader, taught knitting through the 4-H program, was the Candy Stripe chairman at Carle Clinic, and served on the Board of the Officer’s Wives at Torrejon Air Base. For many years she was a sustaining member of the Junior League, DAR, Country Club of Peoria, and Grace Presbyterian Church. She was a founding member of Artistudio, a group of women artists in the 1980s who exhibited their work throughout the Midwest. Her artistic works primarily included printmaking and painting. More recently, she focused her artwork on mixed media works. She felt her best work was the “Deconstructions” of love letters she and her husband had written to each other while they were in college. She became a published author at the age of 81. Her book, “Fields of White Gold” received the Distinguished Favorite Award by the Independent Press in the Memoir category.

One of her greatest joys was the tradition of family gatherings at her home for holidays. On the Fourth of July, the family watched fireworks across the river while savoring homemade banana ice cream. On Christmas Eve they enjoyed roast prime rib, bing cherry salad by candlelight, and most important of all remembered the birth of Christ. Following the holidays, she and her husband enjoyed spending time in New Orleans during the winter. George Ann was a beautiful person inside and out and will be greatly missed by her family and friends. She was a wonderful human being.

Visitation hours will be held at Grace Presbyterian Church from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022 with a funeral service immediately following at 12 p.m. Interment of cremated remains will occur on Tuesday, Nov. 29, at 11 a.m. at Roller-Swift Funeral Home of Osceola.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Grace Presbyterian Church Missions, 8607 IL-91 Peoria, IL 61615 or to the Peoria Riverfront Museum, 222 SW Washington St. Peoria, IL 61602.

Memories and words of encouragement may be shared with the family at www.thewiltonmortuary.com.