BURNS, ALYCE GRACE

Alyce Grace Burns, 81, of Scottsdale, died December 3, 2011 at her home with family by her side. Though she struggled with rheumatoid arthritis for over fifty years, she died of natural causes.

Mrs. Burns was born December 27, 1929, in Del Rapids, South Dakota, to Dennis and Ellen Loretta Flanagan. She was the fourth of four children. Alyce, her mother and siblings, moved to Phoenix in 1942, and attended St. Mary’s Grammar School and High School, graduating in 1948.

She attended Arizona State College, but did not finish her degree. She was married to William E. “Pete” Burns, a dentist and one of the founding members of Jazz in AZ, a jazz appreciatin group. They had six children and made their home in Scottsdale. They were married 34 years before Pete’s untimely death of cancer on March 24, 1984. ALyce never remarried.

Alyce was a member at St. Therea Parish, volunteered at Christ Child Society and he SHerwood Heights Neighborhood Association. Alyce was a gifted artist in many ways. She loved to paint, both watercolors and acrylics, and made pen and ink drawings. She was an avid reader and also a talented writer. She wrote a short story in the style of one of her favorite authors, Erma Bombeck, which was published in the SUnday supplement of the Arizona Republic. Alyce was also a very capable seamstress and loved creating beautiful gardens.

She was a committed wife, a devoted mother and a loving grandmother. Her kindness, creativity and encouragement will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

She is survived by: her sister, Julie Perin of Prescott, AZ; her children, their spoues and grandchildren: daughter, Leslie Ann McCormick, her husband Pat of Midland, MI, and their children, daughter, Megan Kathleen Spender (Husband Neale) and daughter Kristen Nicole McCormick son, James Gavin, his wife Nina of Tucson, and their children, son Zachary William Burns and daughter Holly Burns, son John Brock of Phoenix; daughter Lynn Marie Burns-Reed of Scottsdale, and her children, daughter Meredith Alicia Page (husband Donlan) and Helayna Marie Reed; son Edward Bennett, his wife Janet of Portland, OR, and their children, daughter Lauren Isabella Burns, son William Jackson “Jack” Burns and daughter Sydney Ellen Burns; and son Barry Farrell Burns of Scottsdale.

Mrs. Burns was preceded in death by her husband, William E. “Pete” Burns, her brother Dennis Farrell and her sister Mary Ellen Robbers.

A Celebration Mass will be held for ALyce at 10am on Tuesday, December 27, 2011, at the Franciscan Renewal Center, 5802 E. Lincoln Drive, Scottsdale, 85253 followed by a graveside memorial at St. Francis Cemetery, 2033 N. 48th Street, Phoenix and open house at the Burns’ residence.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Arthritis Foundation, 1313 E. Osborn Road, Phoenix, 85034.