Virgene Burns

   Harriett “Virgene” Burns was born Dec. 8, 1932, on a farm outside of Johnstown to Robert Markham and Enid Pratt, one of seven children. She died July 28, 2017, at the age of 84 at Pathways Hospice in Loveland. She attended Johnstown schools and was crowned Homecoming queen in 1949.
    She met the love of her life, Noble Burns, and the two were married Feb. 2, 1950, in Clovis, New Mexico. To this union, five children were born — two girls and three boys — Dean, Janelle, Terry, Kevin and Luann. This marriage was 57 years strong, until the passing of Noble in 2006.
    They lived in northeast Colorado most of their lives, and in 1996 she and Noble made Wray their home, and together they built the Hitch N Post RV Park. After Noble passed away in 2006, she continued to operate the park until 2014, when she then moved to Fort Collins to be closer to family.
    Her God-given cooking and baking talents were put to good use at Prairie Vista Nursing Home for 25 years in the dietary department. In her younger years, she would be found making tasty meals at Johnson’s Corner. Virgene and Noble enjoyed traveling in their RV and made many favorite stops to Branson, Missouri, and Turkey, Texas.
    Virgene was preceded in death by her loving husband, Noble; son, Dean; son, Terry; daughter, Luann; sisters, Bernice Hayes, Roberta Ackerman, Beverly Gerhardt and Lori Coon; brother, Bobby Markham; and granddaughter, Jessica Burns.
    She is survived by her daughter, Janelle Reedy and husband Gary of Fort Collins; granddaughter, Heather Benson and husband Jonathan; great-grandchildren, Anna, Romie, Elyssa and J.J; grandson, Brandon Kidd and wife Sarah; great-grandchildren, Sadie, Alexa and Felicity; step-grandson, Chris Reedy and wife Virginia; step-great-grandchildren, Gabe, Abi, Becca and Liberty; son, Kevin Burns and wife Pam of Kersey; grandsons, Adam and wife Alexa, Justin and wife Sydney, and Luke and wife Thaleia; great-grandson, Jack; granddaughter, Sara and husband Chase; grandsons, Josh Burns and Ethan Burns; and granddaughter, Elsabeth Burns.
    She was a member of Calvary Lutheran Church in Wray.
    Funeral services were held Aug. 3 at Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home in Wray. Burial for Virgene was held at Grandview Cemetery in Fort Collins.
    Memorials may be made to Pathways Hospice in Loveland.
    Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.