Our Beloved Momma Barbara Jo Burris passed on Monday, April 18, 2022 at Cottage on Vine Nursing Home in Murray, Utah. She had suffered a stroke in February of 2020 and her health had steadily declined up to her passing. We will miss her.
Barbara was born in the Army Hospital in Fort Sill, Oklahoma to Master Sergeant Joseph Ollie Eastham 'Joe' and Selma Mae Bowen Eastham. An only child by circumstance, her parents prized her. She was so smart and loved to learn and her father doted on her. She learned to read music and played piano, was a Rainbow Girl and Y club member and distinguished herself in High School earning good citizenship accolades and perfect, 100, marks all three years. She made friendships that lasted a lifetime.
She attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas in the Sigma Kappa Sorority on a full-ride scholarship receiving a Bachelor of Science and finishing with a Medical Technologist Degree from UCLA Medical Center. She worked at UCLA Medical and excelled, turning down an offer to attend Medical School via scholarship. She married in 1964 and had her first child, Michael in 1969. After her move to Salt Lake City, Utah, son David and daughter Melissa followed.
Barbara raised three kids, worked a demanding career as Assistant Director of the Blood Bank at St. Marks and served as church librarian all on her own. She was grounded in the here and now, always pragmatic and imbued with purpose. She kept her family warm and loved.
Barbara loved books and cats. She loved to garden, crochet, scrapbooking, genealogy and kept regular correspondence with all her relatives and friends throughout her life. As her kids became more independent, she started to travel and became a Travel Agent to share her love of new places. She visited Scandinavia, Greece, Egypt, Italy, England, Jerusalem, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, The Panama and Erie Canals, floated the Danube and on and on. The family travelled with her on occasion making memories that will last forever.
Barbara loved chocolate, cheese and walking around barefoot. She disliked idleness and philosophical dribble. She chose action above all else. She got things done. She will be missed and we are so grateful for who she was and that she lived and showed her love by action day in and day out.
Services
Funeral Service
Family
- Survived By
- Michael Burris, Son
- David Burris, Son
- Melissa Burris, Daughter
Life Story Info
Post Date
Contribute
“In lieu of flowers...”
www.heifer.orgPersonal Info
Born
Died
Cause of Death
Age
Gender
Religion and Beliefs
Occupation
Politics
Worked For
- St. Marks Hospital
Education
-
Bachelor'sSMU
William Eugene Rainey
Barbara hired me in the Blood Bank at St. Mark's Hospital in 1995. She was a beloved mentor and friend. She was the consummate professional in the Blood Bank and I will always admire her. She made beautiful scrapbooks chronicling the history of St. Mark's Laboratory and they are a legacy that will be long treasured here. She always spoke proudly of her children. The world is a little smaller now.
Barbara was a wonderful friend and neighbor. We've missed her gardening, her book suggestions, her travel stories and her sweet presence. Happy memories to you, Melissa, David, Michael. You were fortunate to have such an interesting, dynamic mum.
Barbara hired me as the Phlebotomy Supervisor at St. Mark’s Hospital 2000-2003. I will always be grateful for the opportunities she gave me to learn and grow. She definitely left her mark in the lab at SMH as she invested a good share of her life there. Blood Bank was special to Barbara and it was clear she had many long term friendships with the people she had worked with for so many years. I enjoyed looking through her scrapbooks and hearing about her travels.
I was happy to be able to see her and her loving children a few different times during her last years of life. I’m glad she no longer has to suffer through “the golden years.”
I hope Michael, David, and Melissa find peace and comfort as they grieve the loss of their Mom.