Joan Meldora (Hall) Burnett

Joan Hall Burnett (8.22.1928 – 12.15.2022)

Joan Burnett, age 94 of Pendleton, OR died on Thursday, December 15, 2022 at Juniper House Memory Care. She leaves her four sons Jeff Burnett (Nancy) of Pendleton, OR; Gary Burnett (Kevin) of Flagstaff, AZ; Dan Burnett (Paula) of Ocean Park, WA; Randy Burnett (Winnie) of Pendleton, OR; and step-daughter Carol Redfield (Jerry) of Pendleton, OR. She is survived by brothers Jerry Hall (Amy) of Richland, WA and David Hall (Lorena) of Pendleton, OR; and Robert Sloan of Renton, WA. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her husband Norman T. Burnett, two sisters, and seven brothers.

Joan, (pronounced Jo Ann), was born the third of thirteen children on August 22, 1928 in Walla Walla, WA to Edward L. and Henrietta E. Hall. Joan graduated from Walla Walla High School in 1946. She married Norman T. Burnett of Pendleton on September 19th, 1948. She lived in Pendleton for all of her adult life. She worked as a homemaker, at J. C. Penney’s and with her husband Norm as co-owner of “A & R Burger Island” from 1971 until 1986, when they sold to their sons Gary and Dan. Yet her work didn’t stop, when she was in town, she was at the Island, baking pies and taking orders, or perhaps occasionally giving them. Joan was active in many civic and philanthropic organizations through the years including Beta Sigma Phi, Pioneer Ladies, Women’s Club, Christian Women’s Fellowship (CWF), NAFCE, and PFLAG.

Joan enjoyed time with family and friends, often hosting large family gatherings over the 4th of July holiday at her home in Manzanita, OR. The largest of these on record was a Hall Cousins reunion when 48 folks gathered for several days! She also cherished an international travel trip to visit Holy sites in Turkey and Greece with her First Christian Church community. Joan was an accomplished quilter and loved to spend time creating fabric crafts.

Joan cherished her family, with a fierce dedication and abiding love and deep faith which saw her through many of life’s challenges. Joan’s family wishes to thank the wonderful people at Juniper House Memory Care Facility, as well Sunridge Assisted Living for their many years of loving care and concern of their mother.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Parkinson’s research, Alzheimer/Dementia memory care research, Doernbecher Children’s Hospital or First Christian Church would be appreciated.

Services for Joan Burnett will be held Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 2pm, with reception to follow at First Christian Church, 215 N Main St., Pendleton, OR 97801. Private Family internment service will be at Olney Cemetery.