Nancy Mae Burnham

Nancy Mae Burnham passed away peacefully in her sleep, from age related complications, on the morning of November 3, 2023.  She leaves behind children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and friends who will miss her smile, her laugh, her kindness, and her candy bowl.

Nancy is preceded in death by her husband, Vosco, her brother, Bud Stratton, and her sisters, Vada Crabbe, Evelyn Fisher, Ila Metcalf, and daughter-in-law, Catherine Burnham.  She leaves her children, Kaly (Russ Rader), Traci (Marc Hornbuckle), Jeffrey Burnham, and Becky (Jaunty Rutter), 16 grandchildren and 49 great grandchildren.

Nancy was born on February 15, 1936 to LeRoy and Nannie Stratton in Sacramento, CA.  She was the youngest child of five who loved her family intensely and was very close to them throughout her life.  She graduated high school in Sacramento and met Vosco on a summer trip to Idaho.  The city girl from Sacramento and the farm boy from Idaho were engaged in February and married on May 10, 1954 in the Idaho Falls Temple.  They eventually settled in Woodland, California to raise their family.

Nancy was a gifted, talented homemaker and mother.  She created many costumes for school musicals, and watched countless baseball games, sewed Easter and prom dresses, crafted Christmas stockings for each of her children and grandchildren, and quilted turtle blankets (quilts with a turtle print) for each great grandchild thus earning her the title of Turtle Grandma, which she loved. One of the joys of her life was the time spent with her daughters and daughter-in-law on their special weekend getaways to San Francisco, New York, Victoria BC, Dillon Beach and other beautiful places to reconnect and have fun together.  Laughing until we weren’t making any noise and tears streaming down our faces will always be a treasured memory.  She was a constant source of support, comfort, friendship, and encouragement for her family and we will miss her warm smile and ever welcoming hugs. 

Going to work at the Woodland Clinic in the late 60’s, mom discovered new talents and new friendships.  She worked with wonderful people and had many great stories and memories of the 40 years she spent there.  She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints her entire life and served in many capacities; her service was varied and noble.  She loved singing and sang in the church choir for many years.

Our mother was a positive force for good, a light in this world, and our very best friend.  We will try to honor her legacy as we love like she loved.