Chloralee "Billie" Burcham

Chloralee "Billie" Burcham, age 94, of Garnett, Kansas, passed away on Sunday, February 16, 2014 at Golden Heights in Garnett, Kansas. Billie was born January 10, 1920, near Centerville, Kansas, the daughter of Thomas LeRoy and Josie Pearl (Ogg) Drake. She was the fifth of eight children. She grew up on a farm in the Keokuk neighborhood and at the age of 16 she graduated from Parker Rural High School. She was the valedictorian of the class of 1936. She attended business college in Kansas City, Missouri and worked as a secretary at a food brokerage company prior to her marriage. In later years she worked for Civil Service at various Air Force bases, retiring on March 1, 1983. On July 11, 1943, Billie married Loyd C. Burcham at Centerville, Kansas. This union was blessed with one daughter and one son. During Loyd's Air Force career they lived on a number of Air Force bases. Following his retirement from the Air Force in 1969, they first moved to Florida, then to South Carolina before moving to Cheyenne, Wyoming and finally to Garnett in 1997. Billie was baptized at the age of 18 and joined the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She has served as deaconess, financial secretary, group leader, and Sunday School teacher. When she moved to Garnett she transferred her membership to the First Christian Church of Garnett. While her children were growing up she was active in Scouting, serving as Girl Scout neighborhood chairman, Scout Leader, and Cub Scout den mother. She loved playing bridge; Billie was a Silver Life Master and was a long time member of the American Contract Bridge League Billie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Loyd Burcham on September 2, 2010; three brothers, Thomas L. Drake Jr., Burt Drake, and Keith Drake; and three sisters, Mary Ellen Mays, Shirley Brownback, and Phyllis Singer. She is survived by her daughter, Barbara Kinder of Shawnee, Kansas; one son, Alan F. Burcham of Reno, Nevada; one granddaughter, K. Michele Kinder of Shawnee, Kansas; and one brother, Larry A. Drake and wife, Marilyn, of Moran, Kansas. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 PM, Thursday, February 20, 2014 at the First Christian Church, Garnett. Burial will follow in the Centerville Cemetery, Centerville, Kansas. The family will greet friends from 5:00-7:00 PM, Wednesday evening at the funeral home in Garnett. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church Building Fund and left in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com .