I remember where I was when George passed like it was yesterday.
My brother had come into town to visit earlier in the day, and we went to out to a "happening" downtown bar for a couple of drinks. At some point during the conversation, I caught images of George flash across one of the TV's in the bar with a news crawler on the bottom. Before I read anything, I knew what had happened. I remember my brother just continued talking the rest of the night (he was never big on the Beatles), but I didn't hear another word he said. His last album "Brainwashed", which was excellent IMO, brings me right back to that whole period. I mentioned George's one-of-a-kind ability to convey emotion with his slide playing; Marwa Blues gets me everytime.
Even though most Beatlemaniacs knew it was coming--there were widespread rumors that he was critical in those leading months--you still can't prepare for it. You half expected he would come out ok. He was the youngest Beatle, after all.
A little off-tangent, but if Paul stays upright for another 10 years (and no reason to think he won't)...he will have lived TWO of John Lennon's lifetimes. Crazy.