Mrs Lela Mae Burkhart

Lela Mae Burkhart, age 93, a longtime resident of Firebaugh passed away on Monday, November 4, 2019 at St. Agnes Medical Center suddenly after a brief illness. Lela was born in Oklahoma City and later moved with her family to Dos Palos, California in childhood. She graduated from Dos Palos High School with the class of 1944. During World War II Lela supported the war effort by working at Eagle Field in Dos Palos. She later married her classmate from Dos Palos Don Burkhart in 1948 and started their family. She was a homemaker and a wonderful cook always ready to prepare a meal for family and friends, and no one ever left Lela’s hungry. Everyone was welcome at her table.

Lela was preceded in death by her parents Louis and Juanita Cook and by her two brothers Pete Cook and Roy Cook, by a son Gary Burkhart, by her grandson Ron Daggs Jr. by her son-in-law Ron Daggs and by her sister-in-law Hazel Cook.

Lela is survived by her husband of 71 years, Don L. Burkhart of Firebaugh, her son Ross Burkhart and his wife Mary of Firebaugh, and by her daughter Donna Daggs of Kerman. She is grandma to Shane Burkhart and his wife Becki of Fresno , Andrea Daggs of San Diego, and is the great grandmother of Abigail Burkhart and Spencer Burkhart.

A graveside service for Lela will be on Tuesday, November 12, 2019 at 10 AM at Arbor Vitae Cemetery in Madera.