Fannie Burnett

Grand Junction resident Fan Burnett, 91, died Sunday, January 18, 2015, at the family home after an extended illness. She was of the “Greatest Generation,” with vivid memories of the Dust Bowl, the Great Depression and the nation’s mobilization for World War II. She kept the home fires burning by working in a grocery store and at a restaurantin Lamar, Colorado, while her husband served in the European theater during the war. She was born Fannie Viola Gibbons, on March 2, 1923, in Elkhart, Kansas, part of a family of six children, including her identical twin sister, Jennie, now of Albuquerque, with the two best buddies throughout their lives. They celebrated their 90th birthday at a large gathering in Albuquerque in 2013. Fan married Marian M. “Bud” Burnett on February 5, 1941, in Lincoln, Kansas. The petite young bride with blonde hair and beautiful green eyes wore a sensible grey cotton dress with red trim as she married her tall, handsome sweetheart. After the war, they lived in Lamar, Colorado, where he worked as a mechanic, and where their daughter, Mary, was born in 1947, and their son, Mel, now of Los Alamos, New Mexico, was born in 1949. The family moved to Dolores, Colorado, in 1954, where Bud worked as a carpenter. They later moved to Durango, where in 1963, Bud became a postman with the U.S. Postal Service. Fan worked as a cook for the Durango Public Schools, a job thatlet her do two things she loved: cook and be around children. She later became cafeteria manager at Park School, a Durango elementary school. The couple loved outdoor activities and loved to spend time with family and friends. They retired in the early-1980s and frequently traveled the region in their cab-over camper or trailer, including to Good Sam activities and gatherings in eastern Colorado and western Kansas. They moved to Clifton in 1987 to be near their daughter and her husband, Norm Kinney. Fan is survived by three grandchildren, Rebecca Bigelow(Ken Bigelow), Scott Kinney ( Audrey Kinney) and Kassidy Burnett, seven great-grandchildren, and 6 great, great-grandchildren. A grand-daughter, Cheryl, preceded her in death in 2005. Bud died in 2003, shortly after the couple observed their 62nd wedding anniversary. A memorial service will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Hope West Hospice, Grand Junction, or to a charity of your choice. Arrangements made through Brown's Cremation Services of Grand Junction.