Johnnye F. Burchfield

Johnnye Lee Freeman Burchfield passed away, peacefully, in the home of her daughter Tricky and husband Ramsey, early Tuesday morning. Loving family members and caregivers attended her as she transcended her earthly life.

Johnnye was preceded in death by her husband, Dale Ray Burchfield; her parents Charles A. and Winnie Nerren Freeman; brother Charles K. Freeman; sister Betty Lou Freeman Ivy; infant granddaughters, Catharine Marie and Dana Lea Scott. She, also, buried beloved pets.

She began life in the middle of the Great Depression, but she always said she had not realized her family was poor. Her carefree days of childhood were spent playing in the creek bed, near her home, among violets.

Always industrious, Johnnye began as a young girl to walk with her father to work at his sister’s steakhouse in Lufkin, Texas, where she learned how to properly prepare and present food, bake cakes, and pronounce the word “pudding.” Her Aunt Betty helped her learn the value of the money she paid her and the importance of taking responsibility for the work she was given to do. These were experiences that well prepared her for a successful career in the insurance industry. Johnnye earned a certificate from Chenier Business School after beginning a family. She worked for Braud’s Insurance in Beaumont until retirement.

Johnnye loved sewing, cooking, and crafts. She loved working to keep the beautifully landscaped yard she created.

She loved the home she and Dale bought in Port Neches and lived there 64 years. Johnnye and Dale raised four children: Laura Lee Scott (Sam); Dellamarie Lemoine; Patricia Ellen “Tricky” Horton (Ramsey); Daniel Lipscomb Burchfield (Shannon). A large family ate often at her table, wore clothing she made, rejoiced in happy occasions with beautiful cakes she made, enjoyed birds and butterflies attracted to her colorful flower gardens. She is survived by her four children, twelve grandchildren: Emily, Melanie, Paul Jr., Leah, Josie, Jonilee, Daniel, Krissi, Cade, Ramsey, Amanda, and Cordale; thirteen great grandchildren and six great great grandchildren; and her sister Doris Nell Freeman Christie.

Caregivers Ann and Micheline and Chaplain George Dahdouh are well beloved, too. The family is ever grateful for the loving support they gave to Johnnye and to each of us, as well as care provided by the professionals from Enhabit Hospice.

Johnnye was baptized into Christ when she was a teen. She endeavored all her life to walk the paths of righteousness, through joys and difficulties. We, her children, are thankful to entrust her soul, now, into the care of her loving Heavenly Father. She taught us to revere Him and seek Truth.

It is joyful to imagine that Johnnye found the pathway into her new abode fragranced by a profusion of violets!

“Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet shed upon the heel that crushed it.”