Jeannie Bury passed away on Dec. 10, 2009 at home with her family present. Jeannie was born in Great Falls in 1929 to John V. and Ella Honey. She lived much of her life in Montana, but also lived in Oregon, California, Michigan, and Indiana. She was a retired elementary educator and school psychologist, who devoted her life to young children especially children with special needs. Her doctoral degrees were in neuro-psychology, early childhood development and elementary education.
Jeannie married K.C. Cole in 1951 and they had three children (Caroline, Jeffrey and Gregg). KC and Jeannie lived and worked in many communities in Montana as educators. They were divorced in 1977.
While living and working in Indiana as a psychologist for Catholic Social Services, Jeannie met and married Don Burk, Sr. in 1980. They spent many happy years together living on the family farm near Anderson, Indiana. They were avid sailors dividing their sailing time between Lake Michigan and Flathead Lake. Don preceded Jean in death in 2000. She was also preceded in death by her parents, and her sons, Jeffrey and Gregg.
Jeannie moved to Helena to be closer to family. She worked for a short time for the Prickly Pear Special Ed. Cooperative in East Helena and Boulder. She met and married Les Bury in 2004 in Reno, NV. They traveled throughout the western United States photographing the beauty of nature. They lived for a short time in Magalia, CA and eventually moved to Stevensville, MT and opened an art gallery. They enjoyed many close friends in the art community of Western Montana. As Jean's health began to deteriorate they moved to Helena.
She is survived by her husband, Les, her daughter Caroline (Keith) Obert of East Helena, her brother John (Sue) Honey of Salem, OR, her sister Caroline (Jerome) Murphy of Bothel, WA, her daughter-in-law Maria Cole of Stevensville, MT, her step children: Mike (Trudy) Bury of Chico, CA, Leslie (Sharyl) Bury of Rockland, CA, Scott Bury of Fremont, CA, and Don Burk Jr. of Anderson, IN, Theresa Chapin of Anderson, IN, and Bonita Douglas of Anderson, IN. She also had several grand children: Shani, Shannon, Keely, Greg, Angela and 4 great grand children: Shaun, Mazey, LillyAnna, and Clara.
There will be a memorial service on Dec. 19 at 11:00 AM in the Retz Funeral Home Chapel, 315 E. 6th Ave., Helena, MT. To offer a condolence to Jeannie's family or to share a memory of Jeannie, please visit www.RetzFuneralHome.com. Memorials may be made to the: Jeff Cole Legacy Fund for the Journalism School at U of MT, c/o MassMutual, Attn: Curt Pederson, Columbia Center, 701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 4300, Seattle, WA 98104. Arrangements are under the care of Retz Funeral Home.