Letha Mae Burson

Letha Mae Burson, 100 a longtime De Baca County resident died Monday, February 3, 2003 in the Pecos Valley Care Center following an illness. Mrs. Burson was born in Bethel, NM on September 27, 1902 to the home of Lewie Merlin Anderson and the former Ina Mischer Duckeneminier. She was reared and attended school at Portales, and college at Silver City, NM and Canyon, TX. She married Gus H. Burson on May 12, 1923 at Raton, NM. Letha taught school at Des Moines, NM. She later worked as a telephone operator at Des Moines. Gus and Letha made their home in Fort Sumner in 1937. Letha was a member of Eastern Star Mount Moriah #38 where she served in all their offices including Worthy Matron in 1955, and served as the red star, Esther, for 30 years. Letha was a member of the Ranch Friends Club, Fort Sumner Senior Citizens Center and from age 16 a member of the Church of Christ. Letha enjoyed quilting, and ceramics. She was a loving mother and grandmother. The Village of Fort Sumner honored her with a Proclamation on September 27, 2002 as “Letha Burson Day” on her 100th birthday. Letha was preceded in death by her husband, of 73 years, Gus H. Burson on March 31, 1996; a sister Velma Cantrell in 1994 and an infant sister Anaretha Anderson in 1918, a brother Merline Jesse Anderson, and a son in law Ben Good on December 26, 2001. She is survived by one daughter Jeanne Yvonne Good of Fort Sumner; two sisters Margie Lee Moore and of Portales, NM; Elma Lucille Telechik of Lubbock, TX; three granddaughters, Bennie Jeanne Crist and husband Clay of Fort Sumner; Kathy Jo Longbrake and husband Terry of Brownfield, TX; and Terri Lynn Tucker and husband Donny of Lubbock, TX. Also surviving are five great-grandchildren Cary Crist, John Crist, Kendra Sancedo, Terrence Longbrake, and Lynney Tucker; eight Great-great-grandchildren Casey, Laiken, Delaine, and Benjamin Crist, Talen and Micah Crist, Shandon and Skylar Sancedo.. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, February 5, 2003 from the Fort Sumner Church of Christ with Gary Good officiating. Burial will follow in the Burson family plot at Fort Sumner Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Clay Crist, Terry Longbrake, Donny Tucker, Cary Crist, John Crist, Terrence Longbrake, Lynney Tucker, and Casey Crist. Honorary bearers will be the Pecos Valley Care Center, Staff and Caretakers. The family prefers memorials to the Pecos Valley Care Center “Special Fund”, the Fort Sumner Cemetery Association or the charity of one’s choice.