Ethel Catherine Burleigh

Our much-loved mother and grandmother, Ethel Catherine Purvis Burleigh, passed from this life at the age of 99 on Saturday, November 30, surrounded by family and friends. Ethel was born on July 31, 1925 to Jesse Eargle and Odessa Leta (Johnson) Purvis in Camanche, TX. She had an especially enjoyable childhood spending time on her grandparents’ farm in Comanche, where she learned many talents that she used throughout her life. Upon graduating from high school and business school in the panhandle of Texas, she worked for Phillips Petroleum Company in Borger where she met and married her beloved husband, John Erickson Burleigh, on March 19, 1944. John was transferred to Bartlesville, OK, in 1957 where Ethel settled in raising her family and using her many talents in sewing, knitting, crocheting, canning, baking, and gardening for her family. She joined various clubs, such as Listen N Learn Extension Club, Keepsake Quilters and Jubilee Quilters Guild. She loved to donate quilts to the community for all different causes. She won numerous awards including Homemaker of the Year for Washington County in 1964, Homemaker of the Year for Listen N Learn Extension Club in 1986, and many ribbons including grand champions at the Washington County fair for her canned goods, baked goods, handwork and especially her quilts. She served as a judge in many northeastern Oklahoma county fairs. Her whole life was influenced by her Christian faith when she gave her life to Christ and was baptized in a Texas creek with car lights shinning upon the scene. Her love of worshiping through song began as a teen when she joined a gospel singing quartet and her alto voice was heard throughout her life in praise to God. When John and Ethel moved to Bartlesville, they fellowshipped with the Church of Christ family at 6th and Dewey (currently Adams Blvd). She was involved in many areas of service including Bible class teacher, caregiver to elderly members and in providing benevolence to the community. In 2020, she moved to Tulsa to live with her oldest daughter, Leta Carol, and began worshipping with The Park Church of Christ. She filled her time crocheting “scrubbies” as gifts, blessing others wherever she went. Our mother worked diligently throughout her life to improve the welfare of her family, her community, and her Christian family and proved to be a faithful model of service. She will be missed but held in our hearts until we meet again. She is survived by five children: Leta Carol Lofton of Tulsa, Oklahoma; John David (Allison) Burleigh of West Linn, Oregon; Vicki Lynne (Monty) Newman of Maryville, Tennessee; Lea Anne (Tony) Ward of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; Darrell Wayne Burleigh of Fenton, Michigan. She is survived by 9 grandchildren: Clyde Terence Lofton, Craig William Lofton, Benjamin (Kati) Lofton, John Scott (Sophie) Burleigh, Jaclyn Dianne Burleigh Sousa, Ryan Dean (Kayna) Newman, Reagan Kyle Newman, Austin Charles (Daina) Davis, Adrianne Lea (Steven) Adams; and 14 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Erickson Burleigh; her parents, Jesse Eargle Purvis and Odessa Leta (Johnson) Purvis; baby brother, Jesse Eargle Purvis, Jr.; grandson, Christopher Burleigh Lofton; sisters, Mildred Casey and LaVera Crownover; and sister-in-law, Margaret (Burleigh) Ridenour. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions made to: Hope Harbor Children’s Home, PO Box 1047, Claremore, OK 74018 John Erickson & Ethel Catherine Burleigh Endowed Scholarship, c/o of York University, 1125 E. 8th St, York, NE 68467

Ethel Catherine Burleigh

July 31, 1925 - November 30, 2024