Theda M. (Burgess) Hart

Theda M. (Burgess) Hart, 87, beloved wife, mother, granmother and great-grandmother, entered into eternal rest with her Heavenly Father on July 27, 2012 at home, following a battle with cancer. She was a longtime resident of Moses Lake, WA.

She was born on June 5, 1925in Hunters, WA to Lee and Zelva Burgess and was the fifth child of 10. She grew up in the Hunters and Fruitland area, finishing high school at Columbia Union High School in Hunters, where she met and married her high school sweetheart, Don Hart. They were married on May 29, 1943.

She, along with her sister Lois, served her country by working to repair the Air Force planes in Spokane, while their husbands served overseas in the military.

Don was given the opportunity to open and manage a new Sprouse Reitz store in Moses Lake in 1951. They worked alongside Don in the new venture until 1954 when they moved to Andy, WA. There, they bought a small farm and Don worked full time and farmed part time. They returned to Moses Lake in 1961, where Theda resided until her passing.

Theda worked many jobs. She was a bookkeeper at J.C. Penney's and Darigold. She went to beauty school and then was a hairstylist at The Pampered Doll, all here in Moses Lake.

Theda was young at heart and approached life with great joy. She and Don traveled with the Sandy Sams group for several years and enjoyed the many places they visited. She enjoyed bowling and playing bridge with her many friends, and was a member of Red Hats and TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly). Her real joy was dancing and playing golf; this is where she really excelled. She was able to make a hole-in-one at the Warden golf course at the age of 80 and her family still likes to brag about her accomplishment.

Theda loved people and had many friends, She always had a smile and was always ready to have fun. She loved life so very much. This joy and love stayed with her right up to the end of her time and into eternity.

She is survived by her daughter, Donna Conway. of Moses Lake; her sister. Lois Wiltse (Fred), of East Wenatchee; her brother, Alvin Burgess (Mary), of Moses Lake; brother, Ron Burgess (Charlene), of Ferndale; granddaughter, Dionne Creamer (Shane), of Richland; grandson, David Paski (Mari), of Finland, Europe; and also step-grandson, Trampus Conway and step-granddaughter, Tonia Busherd (Robert), both of Moses Lake. Great-grandsons, Paulus Paski, of Finland, Europe and Gabriel Creamer, of Richland. Step-great-grandsons, Sky Conway, Lavan Conway, and John Busherd. Step-great-gramddaughters, Angelica Garza and Lizbeth Busherd, all of Moses Lake.

She was preceeded in death by her loving husband, Don Hart; her parents, Lee and Zelva Burgess; six brothers, Vernon, Norman, Herschel, Gerald, Loy and Lorin; one great-grandson, Nels Paski, of Finland, Europe; and various cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

Theda will be missed by all.

Services will be held on Monday, Aug. 6 at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church on 1142 W. Ivy, Moses Lake, WA.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation, 1031 W. Broadway Ave., Moses Lake, WA or Assured Hospice, 1417 South Pioneer Way, Moses Lake, WA. Thank you.