Grand Junction resident Aleda M. Burns died of natural causes August 24, 2013, surrounded by many loved ones at HopeWest Care Center in Grand Junction. She was born July 7, 1928, in Glenwood Springs, CO, to Kelley and Eva Cerise. She married Byron L. Burns in Basalt on January 12, 1947.

Aleda attended school in Basalt and El Jebel. Helping on the family’s potato farm caused her to miss many school days, even weeks, during the school year. However, she was able to complete the required work for the time she missed, plus and was promoted 2 grades — twice, graduating from Basalt High School before her 16th birthday in 1944. She attended Mesa College. Her education was based on music, and she was a talented piano and accordion player. She became a member of the Basalt Methodist church in 1946. She played piano and organ for the Methodist churches in both Basalt and Carbondale. Also, singing in the choir at the Carbondale church. In addition, during her lifetime she played in numerous bands in the Roaring Fork Valley and Grand Junction.

Aleda worked in the lunchroom at Basalt High School in the late 1960s. Then at the Gordon Cooper Library in Carbondale before becoming a bookkeeper for a construction company in Glenwood Springs. Aleda moved from Carbondale to Grand Junction in 1975. She worked at Rimrock Bookstore and then at St. Mary’s Hospital for 14 years in admissions and the business office. She enjoyed attending her children and grandchildren’s sporting events and activities. After retiring, she did volunteer work at St. Mary’s and the V.A. medical center. She was an active member of the Grand Junction Senior Center, where she enjoyed playing pinochle and piano, and served as a board member and secretary. She also enjoyed participating in the Senior Games. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary for over 50 years, and a member of the Palisade United Methodist Church.

She is survived by six children, son Stephen Burns and wife Carol of New Castle, daughter Kathryn Burns and husband Rod Violet of Vernonia, Oregon, son Jeffrey of Grand Junction, son Richard and wife Cheryl of Rifle, daughter Lisa Nelson and husband Jerry Nelson of Grand Junction, daughter Denise Burns and husband Bill Krauss of Kensington, Connecticut, 13 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, John, one child, Cheryl Colleen and her husband, Byron.

Graveside services will be held at Basalt Fairview Cemetery, on Thursday, August 29, 2013, at 1:00 pm. Memorial service to be held Thursday, August 29, 2013, at 6:30 pm at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary, Grand Junction

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Children’s Hospital Colorado, c/o Foundation Department, 13123 East 16th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, or info@childrenscoloradofoundation.org.