CHASE LAKE - Jean Mary Burns, life-long resident of Lewis County, passed away peacefully in her sleep on March 20, 2017.
She was born on February 11, 1924, in her grandparent’s home in Lowville, the daughter of the late Noel Burns and Katharine (Bowman Burns) Dewey. Jean graduated from Lowville Academy in 1941 and from Potsdam Teacher’s College in 1945. She taught elementary school in Oceanside, Brookfield, and Lowville, retiring in 1977 from the South Lewis School District.
In her 93 years of life, Jean always was active in supporting the causes near to her heart, including preventing domestic violence, being instrumental in establishing a telephone hot line for people needing services in Lewis County. She always wanted to understand scientific subjects, from medicine to astronomy, and was an avid reader her whole life devouring many hundreds of books and magazines, from Harry Potter to the Merck Manual and Scientific American. She loved to create knitted and crocheted items for her family, especially beautiful blankets. Jean was well known for entertaining people with her vast repertoire of songs on the piano, especially songs from the 1940’s and 50’s. She was an excellent cook and baker, producing a replica of the Trinity Episcopal Church for the church building’s 100th anniversary in 1967. Jean enjoyed being with her family and delighted in her grand and great grandchildren. She loved to share many generations of family stories and the genealogical history of the family.
Jean is survived by her daughters Katharine Noonkester of Concord, NH and Priscilla Phelps of Washington, DC; her sons Ross Phelps of Chase Lake and his fiancée Josie Toscano, Peter Phelps of Portland, OR, Frank Phelps and his wife Susan of Enoch, UT, William Phelps and his wife Susan of Alpharetta, GA, and Robert Phelps of Helotes, TX; her grandchildren Katharine Gonzalez and Sarah Noonkester of Concord, NH, Justin Phelps of Gulfport, FL , Jonathan Phelps of Tampa, FL, Mia Barron of Minden, NV, Karissa Blackburn, Chloe Jean and Annika Phelps of Alpharetta, GA, Graham and Molly Phelps of Durham, NH, Matthew Phelps of Troy, and Robert and Juliana Phelps of Helotes, TX; her five great grandchildren; her sister Carol Dezik of Ocala, FL; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins, including her “sister-cousin” Priscilla Audo of Chaumont; and her former husband Gerald Phelps, of Loudon, TN.
She was predeceased by her sisters Helen Dewey Burdick and Susan Dewey Beck, and her brother Richard Burns, as well as her long time companion and friend Robert Evans.
A celebration of her life will be held at a later time at the convenience of the family. Memorial donations can be made to: Lewis County Search and Rescue, 7782 North State Street, Lowville, NY 13367.
You may leave words of condolence at www.sundquistfh.com