Mary “Joeen” Wilson Burns passed away Sunday, June 8, 2025, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital after a brief battle with lung, adrenal, and brain cancer.
Joeen was born in Pittsburg, Kansas on Aug. 8, 1958, to Raymond Eugene “Willie” and Beverly Joeen Wilson (Leroy) of Girard, Kansas. She attended Lowell Elementary School, now known as RV Haderlein Elementary, and graduated from Girard High School in 1976. Joeen attended Pittsburg State University, graduating in May of 1980. On Aug. 2, 1980, she married George Michael Burns at the Girard Presbyterian Church. They moved to Pittsburg, Kansas where Joeen worked in the meat department at Ron’s Supermarket. George and Joeen later moved to Girard, Kansas where she owned and operated ABC Preschool until entering the public school sector in 2001 at Liberal, Missouri R-2 School District as a special education teacher for 16 years, retiring in 2018. After retirement, she enjoyed substitute teaching for the Girard School District, playing Wednesday night trivia with friends, and planning her next trip to Hawaii. She was a member of the former First Presbyterian Church of Girard.
Survivors include: Son, Adam (Brandy) Burns of Eudora, Kansas; Daughter, Heidi (Lauren) Burns of Lawrence, Kansas; Granddaughters, Ansley Burns and Lennon Burns of Eudora, Kansas; Brother, Scott (Beth) Wilson of Girard, Kansas; Niece, Maria (Chris) Walczak of Portland, Oregon; Nephews, Eric (Molly) Wilson of Jacksonville, Florida, and Seth Wilson of Girard, Kansas; and Great Nephew, Bruce Walczak of Portland, Oregon.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.
Known as “Ween” to her family, she loved attending her grandchildren’s and nephew’s sporting events and activities. She was an avid member of the Newton Chapter DAR, most recently serving as Vice Regent. In her spare time, she enjoyed traveling, reading, and attending monthly DAR meetings.
Funeral Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, June 14, 2025, at the First Christian Church of Girard, Kansas. Graveside service will follow at Hosey Hill Cemetery in Weir, KS with Reverend Renee Goodwin officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks expressions of sympathy to be in the form of memorials to the Newton Chapter DAR. Friends may drop off or mail memorials to Bath-Naylor Funeral Home 522 S. Broadway Pittsburg, KS 66762. Condolences may be left at www.bathnaylor.com (http://www.bathnaylor.com/). Arrangements and services are under the direction of Bath-Naylor Funeral Home of Pittsburg, KS.
