Burgess, Reva Mae Morlan

Reva Mae Morlan Burgess of Marion, formerly of Northwood, Iowa, died July 12, 2013, in Cape Coral, Fla., of brain cancer. She was 13 days short of 96 years old. There will be a celebration of life at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, at Murdoch Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Marion.

Survivors include four children, Barbara (Robert) Vavra of Marion, Janet (Lon) Chappell of Fort Myers, Fla., Kent (Carol Hebert) Burgess of Victor, Colo., and Donald (Mary) Burgess of Scottsdale, Ariz.; nine grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Joe Moore and Mrs. Alvin Spring of Centerville; and many nieces and nephews.

Reva was preceded in death by her parents; five brothers; three sisters; a grandchild; a great-grandchild; and her husband, Donald.

Reva was born in southern Iowa on July 25, 1917, to George and Ella Mae Ogden Morlan. Reva was united in marriage to Donald Burgess on Nov. 26, 1937, at the Church of the Brethren in Unionville, Iowa. In 1958, they purchased the Coast to Coast Store in Northwood, where she worked until she retired.

Reva loved to cook and cooked entirely for the Burgess Reunion of 25 people for two days, the last two years.

Memorials should be directed to The Living Water United Methodist Church Food Bank in Marion in Reva's memory.

Published July 14, 2013 in The Gazette