Aleda M. Burns July 7, 1928 – August 24, 2013 Grand Junction resident, Aleda M. Burns, died of natural causes August 24, 2013, surrounded by many loved ones at HopeWest Care Center in Grand Junction. She was born July 7, 1928, in Glenwood Springs, CO to Kelley and Eva Cerise. She married Byron L. Burns in Basalt on January 12, 1947. Byron passed away in May 1973. Aleda attended school in Basalt and El Jebel. Helping on the family's potato farm caused her to miss many school days, even weeks, during the school year. However, she was able to complete the required work for the time she missed, plus and was promoted two grades-twice, graduating from Basalt High School before her 16th birthday in 1944. She attended Mesa College. Her education was based on music, and she was a talented piano and accordion player. She became a member of the Basalt Methodist church in 1946. She played piano and organ for the Methodist churches in both Basalt and Carbondale. She also enjoyed singing in the choir at the Carbondale Church. In addition, during her lifetime she played in numerous bands in the Roaring Fork Valley and Grand Junction. Aleda worked in the lunchroom at Basalt High School in the late 1960s. Then at the Gordon Cooper Library in Carbondale before becoming a bookkeeper for a construction company in Glenwood Springs. Aleda moved from Carbondale to Grand Junction in 1975. She worked at Rimrock Bookstore and then at St. Mary's Hospital for 14 years in admissions and the business office. She enjoyed attending her children and grandchildren's sporting events and activities. After retiring, she did volunteer work at St. Mary's and the V.A. Medical Center. She was an active member of the Grand Junction Senior Center, where she enjoyed playing pinochle and piano, and served as a board member and secretary. She also enjoyed participating in the Senior Games. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary for over 50 years, and a member of the Palisade United Methodist Church. She is survived by six children, son, Stephen Burns and wife, Carol of New Castle; daughter, Kathryn Burns and husband, Rod Violet of Vernonia, Oregon; son, Jeffrey of Grand Junction; son, Richard and wife, Cheryl of Rifle; daughter, Lisa Nelson and husband, Jerry Nelson of Grand Junction; daughter, Denise Burns and husband, Bill Krauss of Kensington, Connecticut; 12 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, John; one child, Cheryl Colleen, and her husband, Byron. Graveside services will be held at Basalt Fairview Cemetery, on Thursday, August 29, 2013, at 1:00 p.m. Memorial service to be held Thursday, August 29, 2013, at 6:30 p.m. at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary, Grand Junction Aleda was adamant that she did not want flowers at her funeral, as she wanted them when she was alive, to enjoy them. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Children's Hospital Colorado, c/o Foundation Department, 13123 East 16th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, or [email protected].

Published in The Daily Sentinel on August 28, 2013