Obituaries
Burnetta (West) Ooley
Submitted by Debbie Jennings
Burnetta West Ooley passed away on January 14, 2015 of heart failure in Cottonwood, Arizona. She was born in Juneau, Alaska to parents Berna (Converse) & LeRoy West. She was a 4th generation Juneau resident and graduated from the first Juneau-Douglas High School Class in 1956. Her working career was with the Federal Government and was a member of the retiree organization NARFE. Her last position before retirement was with Social Security in Washington State. She married Lyman Beach in 1957 in Juneau where her husband was stationed with the U.S. Coast Guard. They had two children, Bernadene & Lyman Jr. & the marriage ended in divorce. Burnetta returned to Alaska with her children and lived in Anchorage. There she met Howard Ooley where he was with the Air Force. They married and eventually they retired to WA and NV. They celebrated 31 years of marriage prior to Howard's death. Burnetta helped Howard raise two of his younger sons that were still at home going to all their sports games and then college games. Burnetta was very active wherever she lived with the weight loss group of TOPS. She was always an officer in the group and an official representing TOPS. She was also a member of the Red Hat Society. She was called the “Den Mother” of her Class of 1956 and organized a class reunion every five years. Most were held in Juneau but some were held in WA or OR. She loved her classmates like brothers and sisters. Burnetta was also a member of the Pioneers of Alaska for many years. Burnetta is survived by her daughter, Bernadene Beach Whitten and son Lyman Beach. Step children are Mike and Nancy Ooley, John and Dan Ooley and their spouses & Chad Hamilton & family. Burnetta was also very proud of her grandchildren: Daniel, Brianna, Joseph, Zackery, Travis, Jennifer, Carson, Jessica, and John. Burnetta is survived by her brother, LeRoy West and sister, Betty West Miller. Burnetta was preceded in death by her Great Grandparents Bland, her Grandparents Converse and her parents Berna and LeRoy West all in Juneau. Burnetta's memorial in Arizona will be on January 26, 2015 @ 2:30 pm, at Westcott funeral home, 1013 east mingus ave. Cottonwood AZ 86326. She requested cremation and her ashes will be brought back to Juneau. The family will plan a Celebration of Life at that time in Juneau. An announcement then will be made so her friends and classmates can attend the celebration. .