Georgia Mae Burnam

10/4/1930 — 10/6/2018

Service Date: 10/16/2018

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On Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018, Georgia Mae Burril Burnam passed away at Lewiston Transitional Care of Cascadia in Lewiston of Alzheimer’s disease. She had just celebrated her 88th birthday two days earlier.

She was born Oct. 4, 1930, in Lewiston, to George and Marjorie Burril. At age 11, she and her sister went to live at the children’s home because of her father’s terminal illness. She attended Lewiston schools and graduated in May of 1949.

On June 9, 1949, she married the love of her life, Mark Wayne Burnam, at St. Stanislaus Church in Lewiston. Together, they raised five children. They moved the family to Asotin in 1956 and resided there, first in the city of Asotin until 1972, then on an acreage on Asotin Creek until 2008. They then moved to the Clarkston Heights. She and dad shared a love for livestock and ran a small herd of cattle for several years. Georgia joined T.O.P.S. at the invitation of her good friend, Carol Ingalls. That was the beginning of her 20-plus years of involvement in the T.O.P.S. organization. She and Dee Paffile established a Red Hat group and enjoyed many hours of fun, including building and decorating floats for the Asotin County Fair parade. Mom was best known for her outstanding cooking skills. She could throw together a five-course meal at the drop of a hat. No one ever left her house hungry! She made everything from scratch and without a recipe. Her pies, cinnamon rolls, breads and brownies were some of the products of her amazing cooking abilities. She was so proud of her cooking skills and loved to feed you.

Mom and dad enjoyed many hours of dancing. Mom loved to get dressed up and they would go dance the night away at the Clarkston Moose Lodge and the Lewiston Eagles. Mom also enjoyed a bargain. She loved to get a deal at the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley thrift stores and was always proud of the gems she could find.

Mom is survived by her daughter, Jean Mattoon, Sandy, Utah (Paul and Dan); daughter Rose Sprayberry, Clarkston, husband Charlie; son Grady Burnam, Asotin, wife Jeri (Windy); daughter Molly Klug, Vancouver, Wash., husband Rob (Gavin and Katherine); daughter Ellen Boatman, Lewiston, husband Mark (Alex); bonus daughter Barbara Bolick, Clarkston; sister-in-law Ruthie Krueger, Lewiston, husband Harold; sister-in-law Ruby Meyer, Eugene, Ore.; cousins Ellen Bunney and Alice Jacobson; special step-grandson Tracy Petragallo, Kennewick; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, and three great-grandchildren with one on the way. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister Mary Ellen Hall; son-in-law John Mattoon; and her husband, Mark Wayne Burnam.

The family would like to thank the staff and caregivers at Lewiston Transitional Care of Cascadia for all of the love, care and attention you gave mom the last two months of her life. Thanks goes to Pam Kimble as well for the help, love and support you have given us during these difficult times. We also extend our love and thanks to Betty and John Meyer and Lorelei and Jim McGill for all the efforts of love you showed mom and dad over the years. It was truly appreciated.

Mom and dad were married for 69 years before dad passed away June 27, 2018. During those 69 years, they were never apart for more than a few days, even after mom went into assisted living. There are some souls who are supposed to be together — mom passed away three months and nine days after dad. We know they are dancing up a storm in heaven.

Mom has been cremated, as requested. Services are planned for 11 a.m. Tuesday at Holy Family Catholic Church in Clarkston, and burial at the Asotin City Cemetery. Vassar-Rawls Funeral Home handled the arrangements. We are relieved that mom is now at peace.

Service Information

Date & Time: Tuesday, October 16, 11:00 AM
Additional Details: Memorial Service at Holy Family Catholic Church in Clarkston. Burial of ashes to follow at Asotin City Cemetery

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