LARNED — Surrounded by her loving family, Helon Deanne Burnett (aka Deanne/Dede), 75, passed from this world onto the next, Jan. 19, 2020.
A resident of Larned, Kan., Deanne was born to community pillars, Helon and Brooks LaGree of Altus, Okla. As part of an active family, Deanne could be found riding horses and camping under the stars with the Altus Round Up Club. She was also regarded for her artistic talent, honing her creative chops in the Glee Club, Drama Club and attending music summer camps in New York and Arkansas.
Deanne attended The University of Kansas, majoring in Music Therapy, a cutting-edge field at the time. After earning her Bachelor Degree at KU, she moved to Larned and began working as a Music Therapist at The Larned State Hospital. She married well-regarded Larned attorney, Don Burnett and began a legacy of devoting her life to her husband, four children and five grandchildren. She earned a reputation of being an avid golfer and Kansas Rookie Player of the Year in Duplicate Bridge. With her love of learning and keen intuition, Deanne took on the challenge of obtaining her CLVS license, lending her expertise behind the lens to the legal profession state-wide.
Deanne was admired for jumping into projects with both feet with her straight-forward manner and interest in serving others. Whether she was co-founding a junior golf program, walking/mentoring elementary school students or serving on the Board of the Santa Fe Trail Center Museum, she could always be counted on to listen and lend assistance to others in the community and in her own back yard.
Deanne is survived by sister Suzanne (Bob) Kopitke, Dallas, Texas; brother: Brooks (Barbara) LaGree, Albuquerque, New Mexico; sister, Jane LaGree, Oklahoma City, Okla.; brother: Jim (Barbara) LaGree, Edmond, Okla.; daughter: Georgia Martin, Dallas, Texas; son: Lowrey (Nikki) Burnett, Denver, Colo.; son: Brooks (Teresa) Burnett, Manhattan, Kan.; son: Jim (Lacie) Burnett, Hurricane, Utah; five grandchildren: Luke, Holt and Elle Martin, Dallas, Texas; Kennedy Burnett, Manhattan, Kan.; Tristiana Moss, Hurricane, Utah.
A Memorial Service celebrating Deanne’s life will be Saturday, Jan. 25, 11 a.m. at Beckwith Mortuary, 916 Main Street in Larned, Kan., with Reverend Jack Singer presiding, followed by a graveside service and reception with family and friends. Visitation 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24 at Beckwith Mortuary, the casket will remain closed.
With Deanne’s love of education, memorials in lieu of flowers may be given to The Santa Fe Trail Center Museum in Larned, Kan. or Museum of the Western Prairie in Altus, Okla. To send memorials in memory of Helon Deanne LaGree Burnett, mail c/o Beckwith Mortuary. P.O. Box 477, to Larned, KS 67550. Personal condolences may be left with www.beckwithmortuary.com.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Beckwith Mortuary
P.O. Box 477
Larned, KS 67550
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Jan. 22, 2020
