Loretta Carol Burdiss

Loretta Carol Burdiss, age 58 a resident of Cleveland, Missouri, died Friday, June 24, 2011, at 2:15 pm at her daughter’s home in Tonganoxie, Kansas, of COPD complications.

Loretta was born August 19, 1952, in Kansas City, Kansas, to Sidney G. And Alice D. (née Lee) Watts. She grew up with one sister, Sandy.

Loretta married Edward Howard Burdiss on October 6, 1972. They eloped and went to Miami, Oklahoma, where the ceremony was held at the J. J. Swetnam Marriage Parlor. Their only daughter, Tracie Lynnette was born April 6, 1975. The family lived for many years in Kansas City, Kansas, before moving in 1997 to Cleveland, Missouri.

Loretta was employed at KU Medical Center as a billing specialist for 36 years. Her major interest in life was her 3 grandsons, who spent hours out at their Cleveland home.

Loretta is survived by husband Howard; daughter and son-in-law, Tracie and Sam Drake; three grandsons, James Edward Drake (15), Jonah Ellington (11) and Zane Austin Drake (9); father, Sidney Watts; and sister Sandy England.

We will always remember Loretta’s sense of humor in her often recited phrase, “Stick a fork in me. I’m done.”

Memorial Visitation

Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, June 28, 2011, at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee.