Cover photo for Cleopatra "Cleo" Burns's Obituary
Cleopatra "Cleo" Burns Profile Photo

Cleopatra "Cleo" Burns

July 26, 1932 — July 15, 2023

Central Lake

Cleopatra "Cleo" Burns

Our beautiful, sweet, caring, loving, “witty” mom passed away on July 15, 2023, just 11 days shy of her 91st birthday. Cleopatra “Cleo” Burns was born on July 26, 1932 in Centerline, Michigan to Nicholas & Elizabeth Mulonas.

On November 3, 1951 she married Jack Burns. They lived in Warren, Michigan until 1972 when they made the move up north to Central Lake, Michigan. They remained here until 1996 when they made a move to Gainesville, Florida. They resided in Florida until 2015, when it was time to come back home to Central Lake to be near family to help them in their latter years of life. 

Mom was a stay-at-home mom for most of us kid’s lives, which in looking back, was a blessing to us. To come home from school to a clean house, clean laundry, fresh baked cookies and a home cooked meal. And on days we were sick, she was there to take care of us. After moving to Central Lake, mom and dad owned & operated a hardware store for several years, which they purchased from Dave & Jeanette Carleton. After selling the store, mom worked in the high school as secretary for a while, before taking a job at the Antrim County Sheriff Department as secretary to the sheriff, where she retired from. She really enjoyed her employment there, keeping all the staff in stitches with her humor and her cartoon drawings, jabbing fun at all the police officers.

Mom was a very “creative” person, dabbling in water color painting, pottery, pencil drawing, stained glass making, singing in the choir and playing the piano. Unfortunately, none of us 4 kids seemed to inherit her “artistic” talent, but thankfully I did see that passed on to some of her grandchildren.  She had a love for horses, dogs, cats, and lambs. She owned a couple horses while living in Central Lake, which she enjoyed riding with her horse-loving friends. She would even ride in the mounted division of the sheriff’s department in parades. For her 90th birthday, she may not have jumped out of an airplane like George Bush did, but she did ride a few laps around a corral on a horse, thanks to Gary & Jeanne Crannell for their kind efforts.

Mom and dad moved back to a condo in Central Lake in September 2015, and dad passed in December 2015. Mom remained in the condo until October 2022, until her dementia advanced and we moved her to South Torch Assisted Living, where she passed.  Cleo was loved and well-liked by everyone who met her!  They all loved her name “Cleo”!

Cleo is survived by her children Laurie (John) Springstead of Central Lake, John Burns of Mancelona, Michigan, Leslie (Craig) Dawson of Dafter, Michigan and Tracy Burns of San Antonio, Texas. Seven grandchildren: Amy (John) Talbot, Heather Springstead, Matt (Breanne) Dawson, Brandon Springstead, Josh (Kayla) Springstead, Jessie (Mike) Fink and Kenna Diaz. Also surviving are 10 great grandchildren: Trever Taylor, Logan Eckhardt, Paige and Shane Talbot, Ellie Dawson, Blake and Tegan Springstead, Lelynn and Myra Springstead and Alexa Diaz. She is also survived by her precious 98 year-old brother Nicholas Mulonas, as well as many nephews, nieces and friends.

She was predeceased by her parents, her brother Christopher (Palmer) Mulonas, sister Helen Borse, her husband Jack, and a very special nephew Daniel Keuhn.

A Memorial service will be held Saturday, August 5th at 11 a.m. at the First Congregational Church in Central Lake with the family receiving friends from 10 a.m. until the time of service.  A luncheon will follow.  

You can also watch the service on the First Congregational Church's Facebook page during the service, fcccentrallake.org.  

Memorial contributions can be given to the First Congregational Church in general or towards the Ursula House at the First Congregational Church.

Arrangements are under the care of the Central Lake Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes.  Please sign her online guestbook at www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Cleopatra "Cleo" Burns, please visit our flower store.

Past Services

Visitation

Saturday, August 5, 2023

10:00 - 11:00 am (Eastern time)

First Congregational Church

8066 W State St, Central Lake, MI 49622

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Memorial Service

Saturday, August 5, 2023

11:00am - 12:00 pm (Eastern time)

First Congregational Church

8066 W State St, Central Lake, MI 49622

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

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