Burnetta West Ooley

Burnetta West Ooley passed away on January 14, 2015 of heart failure in Cottonwood, Arizona. She was born in Juneau, Alaska to parents Berna (Converse) \u0026 LeRoy West. She was a 4th generation Juneau resident and graduated from the first Juneau-Douglas High School Class in 1956. Her working career was with the Federal Government and she was a member of the retiree organization NARFE. Her last position before retirement was with Social Security in Washington State. She married Lyman Beach in 1957 in Juneau where her husband was stationed with the US Coast Guard. They had two children, Bernadene and Lyman Jr. and the marriage ended in divorce. Burnetta returned to Alaska with her children and lived in Anchorage. There she met Howard Ooley who was stationed there with the Air Force. They married and eventually they retired to Washington and Nevada. They celebrated 31 years of marriage prior to Howard\u0027s death. Burnetta helped Howard raise two of his younger sons that were still at home, going to all their sports games and college games. Burnetta was very active wherever she lived with the weight loss group TOPS. She was always an officer in the group and an official representing TOPS. She was also a member of the Red Hat Society. She was called the \u0027Den Mother\u0027 of the Class of 1956 and organized a class reunion every five years. Most were held in Juneau, but some were held in Washington or Oregon. She loved her classmates like brothers and sisters. Burnetta was also a member of the Pioneers of Alaska for many years. Burnetta is survived by her daughter, Bernadene Beach Whitten and son Lyman Beach. Step-children are Mike and Nancy Ooley, John and Dan Ooley and their spouses and Chad Hamilton and family. Burnetta was also very proud of her grandchildren: Daniel, Brianna, Joseph, Zackery, Travis, Jennifer, Jourdan, Zachery, Shannon, Jacob, Alexa, Jessica and John. Burnetta is also survived by her partner Bob Fuqua, her brother LeRoy West and sister, Betty West Miller. Burnetta was preceded in death by her great grandparents Bland, her grandparents Converse and her parents Berna and LeRoy West, all in Juneau, Alaska. She requested cremation and her ashes be brought back to Juneau. The family will plan a Celebration of Life at that time in Juneau. An announcement will be made then so her friends and classmates can attend the celebration. A Celebration of Life will be held in Cottonwood on Monday, January 26, 2015 at 2:30 PM at Westcott Funeral Home, 1013 E. Mingus Ave, Cottonwood, AZ 86326. Those who wish to may contact her daughter: Bernadene Whitten, 729 Adams Ave., Ogden, UT 84404; or her sister: Betty Miller, 2551 Vista Drive #C-201, Juneau, AK 99801. An online guestbook is available to sign at www.westcottfuneralhome.com