Earnesteen Alta Burleson

Earnesteen Alta (Dickerson) Burleson May 23, 1924 ~ April 14, 2015 "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." ~ 2 Corinthians 5:8 On Tuesday, April 14, 2015, Earnesteen "Ernie" Burleson, age 90, of Cashmere, WA, left her family for a time and entered into the gates of glory. Earnesteen was born on May 23, 1924, to Marie (Wood) and Evert Dickerson in Norfork, AR. She had one brother, Seth, who was 18 months older. When Earnesteen was six months old, her father died in a hunting accident. At age five, her mother died of pneumonia. She and Seth then went to live on a farm with their aunt and uncle, Elsie and Brian Parnell. There, she learned the value of love, faith and hard work. In her own words, she said, "I was most happy when there was a well or cistern, then I didn't have to carry water from the spring." After high school, she graduated from Lyon College in Batesville, AR (where she had played on the women's basketball team) and fulfilled her dream of teaching, which she did for two and a half years, until she "married a sailor and started following the fleet." On November 22, 1943, after a three-day courtship, Earnesteen married "the sailor", Gene Burleson. They were married for 62 years, until his death in 2005. As a navy wife in wartime, like many other women, she worked in the defense plants making aircraft parts, and supported the war efforts in many ways along the East Coast, as she awaited the return of her husband. She was the classic "Rosie the Riveter." In 1945, their son, James was born and in 1948, another son, Donald, joined the family. By this time, the war was over and the family had traveled west, working their way as they went, finally settling in the Wenatchee Valley in 1955. Rather than resume her teaching career, Earnesteen stayed home with her sons and managed the home. She eventually went to work in the fruit industry and retired 39 years later from Blue Star Growers. She then went on to enjoying the life of a full-time grandma and great-grandma. As a mother and a grandma, she had no equal. She was the longest living member of Cashmere Assembly of God (Christ Center) at her time of death, where for many years, she served as Sunday school teacher and Superintendent. She saw the best in us all; always. We are better because of her. We can love because she showed us how. She had a faith that sustained her no matter what. And that faith, is what gives us comfort now. It is the only thing that does. Earnesteen is survived by her sons, James and Donald (Lejoy), all of Cashmere, WA; five grandchildren, Todd Burleson, Randy (Jennifer) Burleson, Dawna (Travis) Fox, Dan (Heather) Burleson, and Katherine Burleson; and nine great-grandchildren. Earnesteen was preceded in death by her parents; the aunt and uncle who raised her; her brother; her twin sons; and beloved husband. Family would like to thank Cashmere Convalescent Center, Confluence Health Hospice, and Christ Center. A Celebration of her Life will be held at the Cashmere Presbyterian Church on Saturday, April 25, 2015, at 10:00 a.m., with a reception to follow. Private Inurnment will take place at a later date. Arrangements are by Telford's Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee.

Earnesteen Alta Burleson

May 23, 1924 - April 14, 2015