BURNS, Judith (Judy)

Today's News-Herald, lake Havasu City, AZ - Posted: Sunday, September 7, 2014 - Judith “Judy” Ann Burns, 74, of Lake Havasu City, passed away Aug. 30, 2014 at the Polidori House where she lost her battle with cancer. She was born in 1940, in Kansas City, Mo. to her parents Catherine (Pat) Emert and Robert Emert, with siblings Sandy Mills and Tom Emert. Her father Robert was an Army lieutenant killed in action on Okinawa. Her mother remarried to Robert Haas who took a loving role in her life and she gained two more siblings Patricia Kramer and Robert Haas Jr. She attended an all-girl Catholic school until the family relocated to San Diego where she met her husband Gerald Burns. They knew each other a month and five days before they eloped to Las Vegas and were married. Upon their return from Las Vegas, Gerald had to return to MCAS El Toro where he was deployed to Vietnam. They remained together for 56 years, having three daughters and one son. Kim Rabonza, Kelly Lambirth married to Jason Lambirth, Jerry Burns married to Julie Burns and daughter Catherine Bailey. Her children blessed her with 12 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Her main job was dedicated to raising her children and being a homemaker. She worked as a veterinary assistant in Rancho Bernardo with Dave Zanders who remained a family friend. She also became an assistant to her husband when he worked at Vandenberg Air Force Base as a superintendent. She also followed him to Hawaii in 1987 where he worked on a project and even though she was afraid of the water she became a certified scuba diver. When they moved to Lake Havasu City in 1991, she worked as an aid for the school district and became a member of the Marine Corps Auxiliary. Services will be at 1 p.m., Friday at Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home, 21 Riviera Blvd. Thoughts and condolences may be sent to Judy’s family at www.lietz- frazefuneralhome.com.