Shirley Potter Burns

Shirley Potter Burns was born June 7, 1929 in Portland, Oregon and passed away on Tuesday, December 31, 2013. Shirley was a native of Oregon who graduated from Lincoln High School in Eugene in 1947, and from the University of Oregon, in Eugene, in 1951.

Shirley was born Shirley Jean Potter to Walter Everett Potter of New Bedford, Massachusetts and Mildred Caroline Marshall of Galena, Indiana. Shirley met William Arthur Burns of Fresno, California after World War II and they were married in Trinity Episcopal Church in Portland in 1952 and relocated to Fresno, California.

Shirley was lifetime member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority in Eugene, Oregon and an active member of Fresno State's chapter, a member of Fresno Cotton Wives Auxiliary, Ikebana International of Fresno, the Women's Board of the Fresno Art Center, Junior League of Fresno and the Holiday Guild.

Shirley is preceded in death by her husband, William Arthur Burns, of 51 years.

She is survived by their four children, Bradley Walter Burns of Fresno, Michael Earl Burns and his wife Debra of Fresno, Catherine Burns Olson and her husband Brad Olson of Clovis and William Marshall Burns of Fresno. Shirley has seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Shirley loved her family and enjoyed spending many summers at Huntington Lake. she cherished her Japanese style home on Park Circle Drive in Sunnyside and the many friends and neighbors of Sunnyside Country Club and Stonebridge.

A Memorial Service will be held at Stephens & Bean Chapel, on Friday, January 17, 2014, at 10:00 a.m.

Memorial gifts in her name may be made to Shinzen Japanese Garden, P. O. Box 16178, Fresno, CA 93755 or donor's favorite charity.