Cleo Rae Burnette

Cleo Rae Burnette, age 66, passed away on Thursday, December 11, 2014 at her home in Lakeside, Arizona. She was the last born child of her parents, the late Andrew Paul and Emma Adel (Azure) LeBeau on September 26, 1948 in Sisseton, Roberts County, South Dakota. Cleo was a humble person and though well-accomplished, she never liked to be the center of attention. Instead, she showered everyone around her with kind loving attention. And, of her siblings, she was considered to be "the strong one." As a teenager, she broker her arm while she was breaking a horse, then later had to have it rebroken because it wasn't properly set the first time. She had a wonderful sense of humor and she loved to laugh. Everything about her will be missed. Her beloved children were her life's #1 priority and, even though times were rough during parts of her life, she strived to constantly better herself, educationally, to be able to provide better for these special loves of hers. She married thrice: Terry Fleur, Wallace Chase, Sr. (deceased) and Brent Burnette. Her children are: Wallace Chase, Jr., Wynn Joseph Chase and Deidre Lee Chase. Her stepsons are: Brett Juel Burnette and Bryan Robert Burnette. Education wise, Cleo attended Moreau River Day School (Mr. Bader said her IQ was astounding and wanted her to move up a grade when in the 3rd grade but, Mom didn't allow it.); Old Cheyenne Agency Boarding School (one winter), St. Elizabeth Episcopal School and St. Mary's Episcopal Girls School, graduating Salutatorian from St. E's. Cleo then went on to attend Heald Business College in San Francisco, became a key punch operator and received her double Bachelors in Psychology and sociology from the University of California, Berkeley; Sinte Glesha College in Mission/Rosebud, South Dakota for her RN, graduating from the University of South Dakota, Vermillion; and finished her Master's Degree in Healthcare Management from Belleview College, which was another of her life long aspirations. Her dad taught Cleo how to play the accordion and piano when she was five. She was blessed with "the ear" and could play just about any song she heard by ear. Her family all enjoyed listening to her play "Last Date" by Floyd Cramer. She also played the guitar and had a beautiful singing voice. She had varied hobbies including: photography, gardening, flowers, caring for her plants, playing Scrabble, Sudoku and doing crossword puzzles. She taught herself to crochet and she made many beautiful pieces. Especially beautiful were her Christmas tree skirts and afghans. Cleo had her favorite soap operas and evening shows, which she taped. Traveling was her main passion, which she did from border to border, coast to coast including Alaska and Mexico; while she was stationed in Naples and Aviano Italy and Heidelberg, Germany, she traveled through many other European countries and always enjoyed eating the different cuisines. She wanted to tour again following retirement and sail the rivers of Europe. As a youngster, she saw Marcella LeBeau, RN, in WAC uniform. Cleo then set a goal of doing just that, and later in life, she entered the United States Air Force (a lifelong dream of hers) at age 46 as a Lieutenant officer, served a 4 year term, exiting as Captain Burnette at age 50. This "Angel of Mercy" collected hearts for the pas 40 years wherever she worked. She thoroughly loved her job of helping newborns enter this world in the Labor & Delivery departments of all the hospitals where she worked. She managed to maintain friendships over the years from every place she worked and they sent flowers, oils, aromatherapy spa, cards, letters, texts, plus phone calls and visits from friends were always welcomed when she could talk. Her strong, determined soul was on hospice, exactly three months to the day when she passed away; her body having failed her, but her spirit never wavered. Cleo was a Christian woman who always found comfort in church, no matter where she lived. Her strong faith in our Lord, Jesus Christ, helped her fight the good fight most valiantly for almost 3 years. In her 66 years of life, she never took chronic medications for any health problems, until cancer struck, and this totally amazed the medical personnel who were taking her personal medical history. Cleo is survived by her husband, Brent Burnette; sons: Wallace Chase, Jr. and grandson, Wade Josua Chase; Wynn Chase; daughter, Deidre Chase (Daniel) and grandson, Chase Cannon; stepsons: Brent Burnette and Bryan (Beth) Burnette and families; brothers: Joseph LeBeau, Sr. (Angela), Pat LeBeau (Dottie), sisters: Lou Burnette, Connie LeBeau (Joey); brothers-in-law: Lynn Burnette, Sr. (Lori), Franklin Lambert (Angie); sisters-in-law: Josette (Jim) Faith (Freida), Dee (Mike), Candace (Tom); aunts: Millie and Alice. Cleo is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. She adored her family abundantly and they, in turn, loved her just the same. Along with her parents, Cleo was preceded in death by her son, Wade Jerome; nephew, Andrew Thomas LeBeau; brother, Andrew LeBeau, Jr., brother-in-law, Van Matthew Burnette; mother-in-law, Elinor Burnette and Hunka sister, Carolyna Marks. A memorial service will begin 2:00 P.M., Thursday, December 18, 2014 at Owens Livingston Mortuary - White Mountain Chapel, 320 N. 9th Street in Show Low, Arizona.