Anna “Annie” Burchett passed peacefully into Jesus’s arms on Dec. 10, 2021 at the age of 91.
She was born to Frank and Hazel Riley on Sept. 30, 1930 in Hermiston, the third of four daughters.
She married Willis H. “Bill” Burchett on Aug. 12, 1949 in Pasco, Wash.
Annie lived and worked most of her life in the Stanfield area, having moved to the Echo Meadows when a young girl, and graduated from Stanfield High School in 1949. She was an at-home mother to five children and if that wasn’t enough, she worked for Tom Able Farms during the summers, grew and sold her famous raspberries, canned thousands of quarts of vegetables and fruits, and sewed clothing for her children. She was a longtime member of the Hermiston Church of God.
She worked at Eastern Oregon Hospital and Training Center, retired from Simplot, then went on to tutor at the Echo Elementary School for several years in the No Child Left Behind program. She had many acclamations for her service at Simplot, including years worked without missing a day. In her later years, she would go on to win blue ribbons at the Umatilla County Fair for the quilts she designed and sewed. Besides her family, she loved to quilt, making and giving away many quilts to her family and friends.
She could shoot a game of pool like no one else, and many was the night she won against people who thought she didn’t have a chance. Her husband, Bill helped build the Stanfield Moose Lodge, and Annie was well known there. Even at 91 years, she never lost her spunk and sense of independence.
She is survived by her children, Eva (Dan) Inches, Millie (Greg) Waggoner, Jim (Tracy) Burchett and Adila Gibson; 23 grandchildren; 36 great grandchildren; and six nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Hazel; husband, Bill Burchett; son, Walter E. Burchett; and sisters, Agnes Davis, Frankie Umbarger and Nellie Welch.
Viewing will be at Burns Mortuary on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021 from 2 to 5 p.m.
A graveside service will be at 1 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 17, 2021 at the Hermiston Cemetery.
A memorial celebration of life is planned for early summer.
To leave an online condolence for the family, please go to burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
