BETTY J. BURNS

BRANSON MO NEWS:

This article was published today at 5:00 a.m.

Betty Jane Burns, 84, died after a lengthy illness on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018, surrounded by family in Branson, Missouri. She was born on May 26, 1933, in Strong, to Marion Saunders and Emma Jo Burns.
She is preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her loving sister, Dolores Burns Nunnally of Branson, Missouri (formerly of El Dorado AR), loving niece, Jo Lynn (Jody) Nunnally Blair and her husband, Gerald, of Branson, Missouri, great nephew, Michael Shawn Blair (Jennifer), of Newark Illinois, great niece, Kelly Lyn Kukla (Stephen), and great great niece, Amy Alice Kukla, all of Downers Grove, Illinois. She loved and made sure she spent time with Kelly and Michael as they grew up whenever she could. Most recently, she was blessed to get to know her great great niece, Amy, and enjoyed all the joy a child provides in one’s life.
Betty graduated from Strong High School in 1951, obtained her Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from the University of Central Arkansas, where she was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma sorority and her Master’s in Education from University of South Alabama. Betty held teaching positions in El Dorado as well as worked for the Girl Scouts of America in both Alabama and Mississippi, serving as GSA Girl Scout Camp executive director and Field Director. She retired in 1999 from her Team Coordinator position at Ellisville State School, Ellisville, Mississippi, where she had also worked as a Special Education teacher in Adaptive Physical Education, Quality Assurance and, lastly, Team Coordinator. In 1979, she was chosen for a biography in the Community Leaders and Noteworthy Americans.
Betty made friends easily and was a very giving person. She was on the girls’ basketball team while in high school and was a star player. …