Frances Moore Burke

Frances Moore Burke born July 22, 1922 in Oakland, CA, died on March 2, 2011. Born of Scandinavian parents, adopted by George Elliott and Ethel Moore at four years old. During the course of her father's employment she lived in Pittsburgh, CA, Zanesville, OH. Sawyerwood, OH and West Lafayette, OH, where she grew up and was Valedictorian of her graduating class at West Lafayette High School. While in High School and before entering service Frances played violin in the Coshocton Symphony Orchestra and the New Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra. In 1943 she enlisted in the WAVES (Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service). After serving almost four years she was discharged with a rating of Chief Petty Officer. On November 20, 1946, she was married to Mark C. Burke. During the years of their marriage they lived in West Lafayette, OH, Weirton, WV, Ann Arbor and Jackson, MI, moving to Tucson, AZ in 1959 where Mark was employed at Hughes Aircraft Company. During her lifetime she was a Cub Scout Den Mother, A Girl scout leader, a catechism helper, Flower Show Judge and enjoyed needlework and was a member of Needlecrafters and Crafty Stichers and was a volunteer at the West. She was past president of Ocotillo Garden, Old Pueblo Council of Garden Clubs and Skyline Woman's Club. Her most cherished accomplishment was her loving marriage of 60 years, and especially her four children, Mark (Janet), Michael (Cynthia), Miles (Barbara) and Monica (Jay R. Hamilton) and grandchildren, Kimberly (Dominic) Ortiz, Brian and Michael Burke and Ashley and Michael Burke and great-grandchildren, Alexandra and Cordero Ortiz. Besides the joy of raising her four children, one of her greatest accomplishments was biking with Mark from Astoria, OR to Yorktown, VA following the Lewis and Clark trail for a total of 4500 miles. Mark and she also biked for three months through various countries of Europe and with a GABA group from the Grand Canyon to Nogales, Mexico. They had many wonderful vacations in Mexico, Granada, Hawaii and especially Australia. It was Frances' wish that her ashes be distributed in the Finger Rock area in the Mountains she loved so much. A Memorial Service will be held at a time to be announced later. Arrangements handled by ADAIR FUNERAL HOME, DODGE CHAPEL.