May 13, 1928-Jan. 25, 2012
A memorial service was held Saturday, Jan. 28, at Faith Baptist Church in Alturas, with Pastor Rod Bodmer officiating.
Mrs. Burris, 83, died in Alturas, Calif. She was born on Mother’s Day in Los Angeles, Calif., and graduated from Woodlake High School and Whitworth College in Spokane, Wash., with a bachelor’s degree in home economics. She received her California teaching credential from San Jose State, and taught school, mostly kindergarten, for more than 30 years before retiring in 1992.
In 1957, she married John W. Burris in Woodlake, Calif., and they enjoyed more than 54 years of marriage, living in Ventura, Calif., Stockton from 1961-73, Woodlake, Calif., and for the last eight years in Alturas, Calif. Two daughters, Melodee and Carolyn, were born to their marriage.
In 1967, she began the first kindergarten class at Stockton Elementary School with 58 children who stayed at school all day. She taught there from 1967-73.
In her years in Stockton, she was a member of Stockton United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school. She was a member of the community chorus and active in the Wagoner 4-H Club.
Survivors include her husband, John W. Burris of Alturas, Calif.; two daughters, Melodee Chapman and husband Willis of Dyersburg, Tenn., and Carolyn Hughes and husband John of Alturas, Calif.; two brothers, Dick Ainley and wife Laverne of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Frank Ainley and wife Barbara of Woodlake, Calif.; a sister, Mary Agnes Ainley of Exeter, Calif.; seven grandchildren, Nathan, Ben and Hannah Chapman, Bethany Chapman Mayo and husband Josh, Jacob, and John Hughes and Janel Hughes and fiancé Tanner Godfrey; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends; and her two dedicated caregivers, Bonnie and Clare.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Jessie Ainley; and an older brother, David Ainley.
