LaVern Burnett

LaVern Petersen Burnett

August 9, 1924 ~ August 23, 2014

Our beloved mom, grandma, grandma great, sister, and dear friend LaVern Petersen Burnett passed away on Saturday August 23, 2014, two weeks following her 90 ^th birthday.  LaVern was born in Shelley, Idaho on August 9, 1924 to George Raymond Petersen and Mabel Matilda Nuttal.

Mom lived in Hyrum Utah as a child. At the age of 6 she lost her hearing when she contracted meningitis. Before her hearing loss she loved music and never lost that love throughout her life. After her hearing loss she attended school at the Utah School for the Deaf in Ogden Utah. She lived on campus and only went home to Hyrum on holidays and for the summer. It was at the school she met her future husband, Joseph Ball Burnett.

Dad and mom were married on September 13, 1944 in the Logan LDS Temple. Over the next fifteen years they lived in Ogden, Rifle, Colorado, Layton and Denver, Colorado. When we were young mom and dad relocated many times as dad advanced his career as an Industrial Engineer.  Two sons were born in Rifle and the youngest son was born in Ogden. In 1959 they settled in their home in Ogden where mom lived until moving to Peach Tree Assisted living in 2011.

Mom worked alongside dad as leaders in the deaf community.  They were deeply involved with the Utah Deaf Association and held offices for years.  They were committed to improve opportunities and education for the deaf.

Mom was an extremely talented person as she could sew or mend anything. Most of her life she was a stay at home mom where she sewed and did alterations for her friends and made rugs on her loom.  She worked a few years at Utah Tailoring Mill and taught sewing at the Deaf School. She made shirts and sport jackets for her sons. She was the greatest mom, grandma and “grandma great” to her family. Mom and dad enjoyed travel and each summer, took us kids many places throughout the United States. She was a wonderful cook. For years she had dinner every Sunday for her family and later the tradition was adopted by her daughter in law. Her family remembers her delicious meals and their individual favorites. Her hobbies include sewing, crocheting, knitting, gardening, visiting, reading and watching the Jazz play. Her greatest joy was her family.

Mom was a pretty lady and she always dressed nicely.  After dad passed away, would-be suitors came along. Mom was not interested. Our dad was her one and only.  Joe is her guy, now and forever.

She is survived by her sons Michael D. Burnett (Janet), Byron S. Burnett (Beth), grand children Ryan S. Burnett (Tanisha), Chad T. Burnett, Jake J. Burnett (Jen), Michael D. Burnett (Susanna), Krista Ann Burnett and 11 great grandchildren. Her sister JoAnn Dew, sister-in-laws Lori Bailey, Jean Burnett and Sylvia Huffaker and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Joe, her son Vern, brothers Duane Petersen and Cleon Petersen and her sister Janet Hansen.

A special thank you to Peach Tree Assisted Living and the wonderful staff for their loving care of mom.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 11 a.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd.  Friends may visit family on Thursday from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. at the mortuary.   Interment, Lindquist’s Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd.