Irene Burton SYKES

SYKES, Irene Burton Irene, 89, of Tucson, Arizona passed on June 18, 2017. She is survived by sons, Jay and Jonathan; three granddaughters and eight great-grandchildren. Irene grew up in Tallahassee, Florida and graduated from Florida State University and worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the State of Arizona as a teacher. Irene and her husband, JD raised the family in various places that were remote and unique like Angoon, Alaska, Ship Rock, New Mexico, Low Mountain and Rock Point, Arizona. Irene was a well-respected teacher with a friendly and engaging style. She spent most of her teaching career at Tuba City, Arizona where she and her husband raised three boys, Jay, Jeffery and Jonathan. Irene retired from teaching and spent the last 37 years in Tucson walking the deserts with her dogs. Her home was always filled with family where they would enjoy the walks in the desert, playing in the pool, endless games of scrabble, shopping and going to movies. A private Memorial Service was held in Tucson on June 24th. She loved dogs and all animals and in her honor please donate to a charity of your choice that promotes the humane care of animals. Two charities that she appreciated are the Humane Society of Southern Arizona (https://hssaz.org/) and Best Friends Animal Society Sanctuary, Kanab, Utah (http://bestfriends.org/sanctuary). Arrangements by EAST LAWN PALMS MORTUARY.