Ella Jean Burningham

Ella Jean Willey Burningham passed away on April 28th, at the age of 91, at her home in Bountiful, Utah after a short, valiant battle with a recurrent  cancer.    

Ella Jean was born the third child and only daughter of Gertrude Annie Williams and Marvin Everett Willey.  She lived her entire life in Bountiful within a couple of blocks of where she was born.   She went to Davis High School graduating in 1943.  She married Wilson Garrett Burningham on March 22, 1948 in the Salt Lake Temple. They were blessed with four sons and a daughter. Wilson passed away very suddenly in 1970.  With typical grace and courage, Mom squared her shoulders and set about the task of raising her family on her own.  She worked at Bountiful State Bank which later became Zions Bank for 42 years both part-time and then full-time after Dad passed away.  There she made many lifelong friends. When she retired in 1993 she was the Assistant Branch Manager of Zions Centerville office.                                                                                                                                                                                          

Mom was a people person.  Whomever you mentioned, mom knew something about them and usually their complete family history, and where they lived and who they married.  She made friends easily and was diligent in keeping in touch with people she knew.  Up until about 3 months ago, Mom enjoyed going to the gym 3 times a week with the Silver Sneakers.   She was in great shape and was active and always curious about what was going on.  If there was a new restaurant in town or something new being built, Mom knew about it, and had probably already eaten there.

Mom was a life-long member the LDS church and held numerous callings, many of which had to do with her love of music.  She loved her time spent serving in the temple as an ordinance worker.   She lived a life of service.  She was a charter member of the Bountiful chapter of the Soroptomist and also an active member of The Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.   There were countless other simple quite acts of service she rendered among her friends and family.   She was a meticulous seamstress and made beautiful quilts and other beautifully pieced works.  She was a fabulous cook and her brownies are a family legend.   But her very favorite thing in the whole world was her family.  She loved each one of us unconditionally, understanding that none of us was perfect, but loving us anyway.  When she couldn’t sleep she would first recite the 13 Articles of Faith, and then begin on naming each of her children and grandchildren, and then went to great grandchildren.   Then if she still couldn’t sleep she started from the top again with everyone’s birthday.   She lived for family dinners and gatherings.  She was never happier than when her family was together enjoying each other.  She was known as Grandma B. by her 21 grandchildren and Grandma Great by her 36 great grandchildren with 2 more on the way. 

Ella Jean is survived by her sons, Randy (Wendee) Centerville, Kris (Connie) Woods Cross,   Todd, (Tina) Centerville, and Jason (Holly) Bountiful, and her daughter Karen  Wight (Frank) Centerville,  her  grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Also, many dear friends and her last remaining sister in law, Nora Mae Willey. She is preceded in death by her sweet husband Wilson.  We are greatly comforted by the thought of the marvelous reunion that has taken place as she returned home.

A viewing will be held on Wednesday, May 3rd from 6-8 P.M. in the evening at Russon Brother’s Mortuary, 295 North Main, Bountiful, Utah.   The funeral will be held on Thursday, May 4th, 11 a.m. at the 43rd ward LDS chapel, 990 N. Chapel Dr. (125 W.) Bountiful, Utah. There will be a viewing from 9:30 to 10:30 prior to the services at the church.  Interment at the Bountiful City cemetery.