Eris Burnett

Eris Burnett, loving mother and na-na passed away March 18, 2006, from complications of emphysema. Eris was born March 25, 1924, in Oklahoma on a farm owned by her parents. She graduated as valedictorian of her high school and was involved in student government and drama. She then went on to attend the University of Denver and received her masterÕs degree in English and drama. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Eris went to work in a factory that manufactured parts for B-17s, eventually becoming a supervisor of twenty employees. When World War II ended, Eris moved to New York City to pursue an acting career. She appeared on several off-Broadway plays and musicals. When her acting career did not take off she turned to her other passion, teaching. Eris began teaching at Kingman High School in Kingman, Ariz. During the summer of 1969, she moved her family to Apple Valley and began teaching English and drama at Apple Valley High School. She formed the first drama club and directed two plays a year with the students who elected to take drama. She also organized field trips to Los Angeles so her students could see Broadway shows. In 1974, she and Patricia Kurtz began productions of musicals during summer school putting on such shows as GuyÕs and Dolls, Oklahoma, West Side Story and South Pacific; this was her passion in life. Eris continued to teach until retiring in 1989. Eris is survived by her daughter, Melinda, son, Craig, and two grandchildren, Aleris and Dakoda.Eris was a great mother and will be missed by all whoÕs lives she touched.