Beverly Ann Burr

Obituary Beverly Ann Burr 01/04/28 ?" 09/13/08 Beverly Ann Leach was born and raised in Tacoma, where her home was attached to the family grocery business. Boogie Woogie was the family dog, and her kittens were Daisy, Petunia and Buttercup. Her fondness for animals and their unconditional love followed her into adulthood. As a mother, she allowed her children to have thirteen pets at one time. Later her yard, bordering a gulch, became the nightly gathering place for raccoons, fox and deer because, although she was advised against it, she provided nightly feedings. Mr. Thomas, her precious cat, kept her spirits up during the last months of her life. Beverly loved writing and was the proud editor of her Stadium High School yearbook. She intentionally enrolled in 3 different universities so that she would widen her experiences for writing. She's written some short stories and numerous poems. Most are humorous, but some are serious, reflecting her heartache over family tragedies. She is published in the National Library of Poetry. Beverly taught briefly in a one room school house on Fox Island. She married Donald Burr and they moved to Northern California, their first home was a tent surrounded by Redwoods while Donald started a logging business. They later moved to Tacoma with their two daughters Ann and Julie, and added son Greg and daughter Mary to the family. Bev's oldest child, Ann Marie, was kidnapped from the family home at age 8, and the case remains unsolved. Laura, her youngest child, was adopted into the family and has brought ongoing joy. Bev found great strength in her faith, and created beauty through her amazing gardens. She worked at Bates and Saint Josephs Hospital and volunteered in a local school teaching reading. She and her husband of over 50 years travelled the world. After his passing, she organized a "Widows Group" which continues to meet. Her children describe her as strong, genuine and humorous. She wrote her own "obituary" which thanked God for letting her enjoy this wonderful world and 5 beautiful children. Her life is a huge success as measured by the vast number of friends who cared about her. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Patrick's Church, 1101 N. "J" Street, Tacoma, at 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 20, 2008, followed by a celebration of her life in the St. Patrick's Community Center. In her honor, remembrance gifts can be made to Franciscan Hospice, PO Box 1502 Tacoma WA 98401, or Seniors with Pets Assistance Program, 2108 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma WA 98402.