Georgina McAnally, who was 56 when she died July 22 at her home in Craig, served on the board of nearly every committee and foundation in town, cementing a reputation as Moffat County’s most dedicated volunteer.
Through Toys for Tots and the local successor, Christmas For Kids, that she founded 10 years ago, McAnally funneled thousands of toys, gifts, food and money to needy families and seniors. Each year, the Christmas programs helped approximately 350 families, providing them with surprise gifts along with the family’s requests.
“When I get an application that says ‘Just anything’ on the request line, that’s really touching,” she told a Craig Daily Press reporter in 2004.
She married her high school sweetheart, James “Roy” McAnally, shortly after graduating from Arvada West High School.
When their oldest son, Jamie, began school in Craig, she discovered that the district lacked a parent-teacher association. Along with another parent, she promptly organized a PTA. She remained involved in the PTA until her younger son, Bryan, was in middle school. Then she earned her real estate broker’s license and eventually took over American Northwest Realty.
It became the dominant real estate firm, with brokers fiercely loyal to the doyenne who commemorated holidays and birthdays by leaving candies, flowers, pins and other mementos on her flock’s desks.
Her vocation in real estate and her avocation for community service created county and state connections that made McAnally an invaluable addition to local service organizations, particularly after the two McAnally sons grew up and established their own families.
She knew which car dealers would offer charitable discounts and how to coax donations of land, food, money and other commodities from benefactors throughout the Western Slope and Front Range.
“Her connections and her status in this community were just phenomenal,” said Jonathan Godes, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Craig.
“When she announced she was stepping down this year from the Christmas For Kids program, we jumped all over that and got her on our board right away.”
She kept long hours, divided between the real estate office, board meetings, and charity and community work. In February 2005, McAnally was named Moffat County’s Woman of the Year.
“She has inspired me throughout my life as a woman who always pursued excellence,” Bryan McAnally wrote in a 2005 Mother’s Day tribute to her.
“Confident and persevering, she is a good mom with a good heart. She’s generous to a fault and passionate about life.”
That passion ended at 2:18 p.m. July 22. Distraught about personal imbroglios, she shot herself.
“With her, it was all or nothing,” her husband said after she died.
Besides her husband, survivors include sons Jamie of Rio Rancho, N.M., and Bryan of Flower Mound, Texas; and three grandchildren.
Staff writer Claire Martin can be reached at 303-820-1477 or cmartin@denverpost.com.
