Joan Marie Montgomery Burns' Obituary
Mrs. Joan Marie Montgomery Burns, 84, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, August 18, 2020 in the Village at Riverview in Barboursville, WV. Mrs. Burns is preceded in death by her father, Leonard Lee Montgomery, her mother, Nellie Mae Foster Montgomery, her brother, Leonard Lee Montgomery, Jr., and her husband, Mr. Richard Burns. She is survived by her four children: Richard and Linda Burns of Lavalette, WV, Terry (Miller) and Robert Ramsey of Prattville, AL, Ellen and Rae Bland of Pittsboro, NC, and Alan and Jeanette Burns of Culloden, WV; eight grandchildren: Zach and Sarah Burns, Matthew (Jessi) and Jeremy (Jes) Miller, Tristan Bland, and Erin (David Keffer), Andrew (Taylor) and Erica Burns; and five great-grandchildren: Conley, Sloane, and Teagan Miller (Matthew), Harper Miller (Jeremy) and Margot Burns-Keffer (Erin). Joan was born May 22, 1936, in Cedar Grove, WV. She was the daughter of a coal miner and a housewife and lived in a tightly knit coal mining community. On her sixteenth birthday, Joan graduated from Montgomery High School, as she had been double promoted twice. She then attended Marshall College (University) from 1952 until 1955. While home on a weekend, she met Richard Burns at West Virginia University of Technology. They married in June, 1955. Joan Marie began her teaching career in Lincoln County, West Virginia, in a one room schoolhouse. The nineteen year old rode the bus to a certain point, walked two 2 miles each way, and taught grades one through eight. Joan and Richard then moved to Proctorville, Ohio, where Richard became the band director at Fairland schools. Joan substituted at Fairland quite a bit until she finished her BA degree from Marshall in 1968. She first taught Social Studies at FHS, however, it soon became apparent that her expertise in teaching higher level math was her true calling. She began teaching courses including precalculus, trigonometry, analytic geometry, limits and functions. When computers first became available, Mrs. Burns taught herself computer science and programming and began teaching her students how to write programs. Upon retiring, she taught at Marshall University for two years. Nearly every student she taught has remarked that she was their favorite teacher. She was fun, but most importantly, knew how to break everything down so that any problem could be solved. She taught from her heart and sincerely loved teaching. Joan was also a mother of four children, whom she loved unconditionally and supported throughout their lives. She attended every local event in which any of the four, and often her grandchildren were involved, including band, basketball, volleyball, and football games, concerts, plays and musicals, dance recitals, and many more activities. When Joan Marie Montgomery Burns retired from teaching, one of the best teachers to walk the halls of Fairland High School was sorely missed. When she retired from this world, heaven received a true angel with a sweet, pure heart. She was always kind to everyone and will truly be missed from this earth. She has touched the heart of all who knew her. Funeral service will be conducted 11 a.m. Saturday, August 22, 2020 at Hall Funeral Home and Crematory, Proctorville, Ohio. Burial will follow Montgomery Memorial Park, London, WV. Visitation will be held 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, August 21, 2020 at the funeral home. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.ehallfuneralhome.com. Visitation HALL FUNERAL HOME
Friday, August 21, 2020
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
625 COUNTY ROAD 775PROCTORVILLE, Ohio 45669
Directions Funeral Service HALL FUNERAL HOME
Saturday, August 22, 2020
11:00 AM
625 COUNTY ROAD 775PROCTORVILLE, Ohio 45669
Directions
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