Gertrude "Gerty" Maude Burton

Gertrude “Gerty” Maude (Ball) Burton, 99, of Kokomo, passed away at 8:30 AM Monday March 12, 2018 at Northwoods Village, Kokomo. Gerty had a full and wonderful life. She was born August 24, 1918 in Mitchell, Indiana to the late Frank Ball and Anna Mae (Fletcher) Ball. She grew up with a Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher life around the beauty of Spring Mill State Park. Gerty fell in love with her childhood sweetheart Walter (Booty) Burton. They were married in Art Bank, Montana on February 8, 1943, just before her new husband shipped off to Italy to serve his country in World War II. He preceded her in death on January 19, 1991. During the war Gerty worked for Delco and following the war became a housewife to raise her daughter and son. Gerty was a very active member of Kokomo and during her life was given many special recognition awards from organizations and in the summer of 2010 the city of Kokomo recognized Gerty as the woman of the year and announced a day as Gerty Burton day. She was always active sewing, crocheting, quilting, serving on a committee, visiting/helping others and in the last forty years painting which became her true love after learning from her daughter-in-law Linda Burton. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church and the Kokomo Arts Association. She was a BYF Youth Fellowship Leader, Guild Girls Leader, Sunday school teacher for over 60 years, Girl Scout Leader, and 4-H Leader. She participated in the Greentown Fair and the Indiana State Fair for over 70 years for canned goods, quilting, dolls and paintings. Gerty loved life and was always ready to help anyone in need. Gerty worked at the Art Works which is now located on Main Street downtown Kokomo until she was 97. Please visit the studio and you will find a wall upstairs displaying many of her paintings. She will not only be missed from her family but for all the people in Kokomo that she has touched or helped along the way. Gerty touched many lives, loved her grandchildren and loved her great grandchildren. Survivors include one son Keith F. (Linda) Burton of Parrish, Florida; one sister Audra Crispen of Kokomo; eight grandchildren Philana Orem, Anjanetta Oricoli, Patrick Orem, Alicia Orem, Autumn Paul, Tracy Weldon, Tiffany Peltier, and Benjamin Burton. There are also three great grandchildren AJ Oricoli, Bellamarie Oricoli, and Tabitha Cato Burton Peltier. Also surviving is Charlene Olson who loved Gerty and became her adopted daughter after Diana’s passing. Charlene was a loving friend that visited and took care of Gerty every week that became part of our family. Gerty was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one daughter and son-in-law Diana Orem and Phillip Orem; three brothers Jim, Garris, and Raymond Ball; also three sisters Ruth Condon, Mary Tickfer, and Mabel Lee Ball. Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Saturday, March 24, 2018 at Ellers Mortuary Webster Street Chapel, 3400 South Webster Street, Kokomo. Pastor Jeff Sexton will officiate. Burial will follow at Sunset Memory Garden. The family will receive friends from 4-8 PM Friday at the mortuary.