Mary 'Adine' Rhea Burton

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Mrs. Mary "Adine" Rhea Burton, 91, died Sunday, Aug. 19, 2012, in Natchitoches, La., surrounded by family, or natural causes.

Adine Copeland was born in Cooter, Mo., June 21, 2921, to Ellis Wayne Copeland and Alma Eloise Gilliland Copeland. She lived in Cooter with her family, growing up there with her siblings Wayne and Renna. She graduated from Cooter High School in 1939, attended Teachers College in Springfield, and then later graduated with a degree in Elementary Education from Arkansas State University.

Adine was a lovely little girl, with golden ringlets of which she was very proud. She grew into a very talented and polished young woman. She sewed beautifully, making tailored clothing for herself and elaborate matching outfits for her two young daughters. Later, she sewed dolls and doll clothes for her grandchildren, and knitted blankets or made quilts for each of her great-grandchildren.

Adine met James Halleck "Hal" Rhea at Teachers College in Springfield, Mo. They married June 16, 1940, before Hal went into the Navy and served in World War II. Their 45-year marriage was a happy one. In the early years of their marriage, they lived in Charlottesville, Va., Chicago, Fulton, Mo., and Cairo, Ill. They returned home to Cooter in the early 50s and made their home there amongst many nearby family members, raising their two young daughters, Marilyn and Kathy, teaching, farming, and participating in community life.

With Hal and her family, Adine enjoyed camping. they always had a home filled with music, prayer and the reading of the Word. They also danced and were members of the Bootheel Promenadors Squaredance Club at Cooter. They were mentors and hosts to many young teachers and their families.

Adine impacted countless students throughout her 26-year teaching career at Cooter Elementary School, from which she retired in 1986. Teaching was a natural career choice for her; her mother Alma was a teacher for 39 years; her husband Hal was a teacher for more than 30 years including teaching over 20 years at Cooter High School. Later, her daughter Marilyn became a teacher at Cooter Elementary School; her granddaughter Dana and granddaughter-in-law Ashley are now teachers at Cooter Elementary; and her granddaughter Kara is a high school math teacher. She taught several elementary grades and in the migrant program, but her favorite grade to teach was the fourth grade. She was a dedicated and thoughtful teacher, and treated every student as an individual. She was engaging and creative with her students, leading them in interesting hands-on projects like making a homemade quilt after reading "Little House on the Prairie." Her annual classroom Christmas tree was so admired that it "made the paper" several times.

After the death of her husband Hal in 1986, Adine spent a lot of time with her family. She also continued to sew and create beautiful crafts. With friends, she went on interesting travel trips, including to Hawaii, England and the Caribbean.

Later, Adine married Joe F. Burton, whom she had known all her life, on July 10, 1991. Joe made Adine laugh and they did many enjoyable things together, including visiting children and grandchildren and traveling widely. They were married nine years before his death.

Adine was a lifelong member of Cooter United Methodist Church, where she was a dedicated Sunday School teacher and organized and led a children's church choir.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Hal, and her husband, Joe; one brother, Wayne Copeland; and one sister, Renna Stine.

Those left to mourn her passing include her two daughters, Marilyn Stevens of Natchitoches, La., and Kathy Robinson and husband, Gary, of Cooter;

Her niece Robin Garvey and husband, Mike, and their children of Rockford, Ill.;

Five grandchildren, Marla Alpizar and husband, Rafael of Miami, Fla., Tiffany Stevens and husband, Miles Holyfield of Gonzales, La., Kara Stevens of Natchitoches, La., Dana Swan and husband, William "Buddy" of Cooter, and Galen Robinson and wife, Ashley of Cooter; and

Six great-grandchildren, Adeline Elle Holyfield, Hallie Kalen Robinson, Layton Clark Robinson, Sofia Adine Alpizar, Leila Kate Alpizar, and Carson Garrett Swan.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2012, at the Cooter United Methodist Church with Pastor Todd Holman officiating. Service music played by Freddie Pugh and Carol Jones included "The Church in the Wildwood," "When We Al Get to Heaven," and How Great Thou Art." Special music arranged by Vance West was "I Can Only Imagine." Serving as pallbearers were Todd Campbell, Steve Reid, Mark Brackin, Steve Robinson, Clay Snider and Ken Robinson. Honorary pallbearers were Tommy Campbell, Tom Winter, Jerry Dale Bryan and John Smith. Burial and committal prayers were in the Mt. Zion Cemetery near Steele where she was laid to rest next to her late husband James Halleck Rhea.

Arrangements were under the direction of the John W. German funeral Home of Steele.