Ornealo Burke Lee

Ornealo Burke Lee, age 87 of Grant, died April 24, 2007, peacefully in her sleep in Idaho Falls of causes incident to old age. She was born August 27, 1919, in Iona, the third of six children of Samuel B Burke and Sarah Longhurst Burke. The family lived in Iona until she was seven, when they moved to Bynum, Montana to homestead land there. It was a struggle to make a living during those Depression years. Her mother died of cancer when Ornealo was twelve, which was a huge loss to the family. While in Montana, Ornealo attended Choteau High School and played on the girls’ basketball team. She graduated from Iona High School after the family moved back to Idaho. She learned to play the piano and enjoyed all good music. Reading was her passion. She read the Book of Mormon before she turned eight. Ornealo attended Idaho State University for two years and earned a teaching certificate. She taught at the elementary school in Grant and there met her future husband Eldred Lee. They were married June 4, 1941, in the Cardston Alberta Temple. They lived in Grant all their married life, where they farmed and raised their five children. She was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many callings in the church. She had a strong testimony of the gospel. She was an excellent teacher and expert genealogist, traveling to Salt Lake City often and to the South, home of her Burke ancestors. After her last child left for college, she took up oil painting, at which she excelled. She studied with prominent artists in the Valley and received numerous awards, including a Grand Prize at the Eastern Idaho State Fair. Her paintings are prized by her friends and family. She and Eldred enjoyed traveling with their children, especially to Alaska with Marilyn’s family and to the British Isles and Denmark with Michael’s family. She enjoyed being out in nature, particularly at the family cabin in Island Park. She loved and was beloved by her family and was very proud of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Ornealo is survived by her husband of 66 years, Eldred Lee of Grant; children, Marilyn (Leo) Brown of La Jolla, California; Royce (Annette) Lee of Idaho Falls; Phyllis Millar of Grant; Michael (Linda) Lee of Carmel, California; a son-in-law, Sam (Kristen) Medford of Galisteo, New Mexico; a sister, Genevieve Smith of Orem, Utah; eighteen grand-children, and sixteen great-grandchildren, with two more expected soon. She was preceded in death by her parents, daughter Barbara Medford, son-in-law David Millar, and three brothers and one sister. Funeral services will be held at 1 PM Saturday, April 28, at the Grant Ward Chapel, with Bishop Blaine Ball officiating. The family will visit with friends from 11 AM to 12:45 PM Saturday before the services at the church. Interment will be in the Grant Cemetery under the direction of Eckersell Memorial Chapel in Rigby. The family suggests donations to Hospice of Eastern Idaho in lieu of flowers.