Mary Virginia Harris Burner

Mary Virginia Harris Burner, 90, died on November 21, 2013 surrounded by her family in Lansing, KS. She was born to the late Grover C. and Bertha Ridenour Harris on January 23, 1923 at home in the White Oak community near Philippi, WV. Despite the Great Depression, she enjoyed her farm childhood where she was surrounded by loving extended family and friends. She attended the one room White Oak school, where she was once taught by her father, a longtime educator for Barbour County schools. One of her most prized possessions was a quilt sewn by community women to celebrate her graduation from Belington High School in 1940. She attended Alderson Broaddus College and obtained her teaching certificate. Answering the call for women to leave the farm and go to the factories in WWII, she worked for a time in a factory in Baltimore, living in crowded wartime conditions. She returned to WV, teaching grades one through eight at Albright School. She left teaching to assist in the extended recovery of her future husband, who had been injured in pilot training while serving in the U.S. Navy. She married the late Dr. Ralph Burton Burner, of Philippi, WV, on February 7, 1944. After he used the GI Bill to complete medical school, the couple moved to Gallipolis, Ohio where he had a medical practice for 30 years, serving with the Gallipolis Clinic, Holzer Clinic and Hospital, and Pleasant Valley Hospital. During this time, Mary raised her family and participated in many community activities. She was a member of the First Baptist Church, and was a faithful servant in several roles as a teacher, in the church kitchen, and on committees. She was also active in the Daughters of the American Revolution and was a Past District Matron in the Order of the Eastern Star. She cooked many meals at the Masonic Temple. She was very active serving on committees related to her children’s activities, such as the Gallia Academy Band Boosters. She was always supportive of her children, sewing many of their clothes and attending school activities. Being together as a family for nightly dinner was a required activity. She was an avid reader, quilter, an accomplished cook and a very creative person who always spread sunshine to others with her quick smile and kind words. Following retirement, the couple moved to South Carolina and enjoyed many years walking on the beaches hand in hand at Myrtle Beach. They were active members of Ocean View Baptist Church and enjoyed many friends from church and Apache Campground, where they maintained their beach home. She was a member of Peter Horry Chapter of the DAR and very active in the Senior Center quilting groups. Her older grandchildren cherished the times visiting grandparents at the beach. After her husband’s death, she decided to travel, touring Europe and taking many cruises. Never afraid to try new activities, in later life she learned to use a computer, became accomplished in needlework, and even was known to go geocaching with her children and grandchildren. She moved to Kansas to be closer to her youngest grandchildren. She enjoyed her grandchildren including her in activities and was proud to see all her grandchildren grow to adulthood. She was a member of the Lansing Community Club. She is survived by her children, Ralph Burner Jr. (Linda) of Montrose, Michigan, Jan (Edward) Humphreys of Lansing, KS and Joyce Burner of Lansing, KS with whom she lived. She is also survived by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, her brother Dr. Grover (Sara) Harris of Fayetteville, Arkansas, her sister JoAn (Harry) Lemmon of The Villages, FL, nieces and nephews, and wonderful friends. Preceding her in death were her parents, husband, and her brother, Ira Harris. Services will be 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, November 26, 2013 at the Willis Funeral Home, Gallipolis, Ohio with Pastor Alvis Pollard officiating. Burial will follow in Mound Hill Cemetery, Gallipolis, Ohio. The family would like to thank her caregivers and The Meadows neighborhood for their special care, support and thoughtfulness. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to First Baptist Church, 1100 Fourth Avenue, Gallipolis, Ohio or to your local food pantry.