Mary Virginia Burnett's Obituary
Mary Virginia Burnett 94, of Lake Worth, Florida passed away on October 21 2023. She leaves to cherish her memory a host of family members and friends. Mary will be deeply missed by all that knew and loved her.
Mary Burnett was born on August 11, 1929, at the Weaver Dairy Farm in the town of Boynton. During her childhood, Mary attended elementary school in Boynton. She also attended school in the Loxahatchee one-room schoolhouse presently located at Yesteryear Village on the ground of the South Florida Fair. Mary graduated from Palm Beach High School in 1947. Shortly after graduation, Mary began working at the Palm Beach County Courthouse. She worked in the courthouse for 26 years, nearly all of it in the Palm Beach County Courthouse. Mary was hired by Palm Beach County Property Appraiser Jimmy Owens. She continued working in that office until retiring in 1973. During her time in the property appraiser’s office, Mary became the head deputy appraiser for the land department. She was very proud of the work she did in that office. While working in the Palm Beach County Courthouse, Mary met her future husband, Grant Victor Burnett, Sr. They met at a lunch counter at the courthouse. Grant was also working at the courthouse at the time. Grant had served in the United States Army Air Forces from 1946 to 1947 and had moved from native Michigan to Palm Beach County. Grant and Mary were married on June 12, 1952, at a Baptist Church in Boynton. They lived for a period time in Acacia Villas after marrying. They bought a home in Lake Clarke Shores in 1957 and remained there until moving to Lake Clarke Gardens in 1997, where each remained until passing away. In 1964, Mary and Grant adopted Owen in 1964 and Brian in 1966. When Mary retired from the property appraiser’s office in 1973, she was able to spend more time raising two sons while Grant working his longtime job at Florida Public Utilities until his retirement in the 1980’s. Mary also helped take care of her mother, Roselle Baskin, until her mother’s death and helped take care of her brother Roy Wagner, until his death. She also helped take care of her stepfather, Condor Baskin. Mary was a devoted wife who was married for 62 years to Grant until his death in 2015. Their love for each other was enormous. Mary was also proud of having raised two sons. There were many wonderful vacations taken as a family to many parts of Florida and elsewhere when her sons were young children. Mary spent many nights helping her sons with homework and spent several nights going to West Palm Beach Expos ballgames with her husband and sons. During her life, she devoted countless hours to supporting her children during their childhood and adulthood. Mary was proud of having been born and raised in Palm Beach County. She enjoyed spending quiet times with Grant. While living in Lake Clarke Gardens, they enjoyed going out to eat lunch and dinner on most days and enjoying each other’s company. Mary enjoyed relaxing and watching her favorite television programs with Grant. She particularly enjoyed watching television westerns. Mary also greatly enjoyed the company of her friends at Lake Clarke Gardens. She dearly missed Grant and always looked forward during the last years of her life to visits to her condominium from any of her friends at Lake Clarke Gardens. Mary spent her lifetime helping others and lived life with a generous heart. Mary lived every day of her life as an honest, caring, and loving person. Mary was preceded in death by her husband Grant, her mother Mary Roselle Baskin and her father Clyde Owen Wagner, as well as her brother Roy Wagner. She is survived by her sons Owen Burnett and Brian Burnett
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