Mattie Mae Burnside, 87, of Great Bend, Kan., passed away on Aug. 7th, 2019, peacefully in her home with family by her side. 

Mae (her preferred nickname) was born in Ripley County, Mo. on July 2nd, 1932, to father Riley Mason and mother Florence Mason. She married Loyd Burnside on May 28th, 1949. They had eight children during their union. Mae worked full time her whole life and before retiring worked at a juvenile detention center where she inspired kids to get their high school diplomas. She ended up receiving her diploma at the age of 69 and taught kids and adults alike that it’s not too late to go back to school. Her perseverance inspired her niece to go back to college and get her nursing license. She studied at Barton County Community College. She had two lifelong passions for gardening and reading a good book. She was able to get her garden established as a protected wildlife and pollinator habitat.

Mae is preceded in death by husband Loyd Burnside; daughter Joy Lynn Bittle; grandson William Randall Schrock; great-granddaughter Avery Kaye Belk; and all of her siblings. She is survived by her children Wayne and Gayle Burnside of Poplar Bluff, Mo., Mike Burnside of Ellinwood, Kan., Diane Frederking of Wichita, Kan., Donna and Bill Schrock of Garden City, Mo., David and Carmela Burnside of Reno, Nev., David and Jeanie Kozel of Chase, Kan., Julie Larson of Great Bend, Kan. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. She is also loved by numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces.

The celebration of her life will be held Aug. 15th, 2019 at 1 p.m. at the Grace Community Church.

Special thanks to the Erica Bittle, the Hospice nurses and Tierra Weber for their love and care. 

“In order to write about life first you must live it.” Ernest Hemingway.

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Aug. 11, 2019