Cleadean Burns

March 28, 2021

Cleadean (Dean) Graves Burns gained her heavenly wings on Sunday, March 28, 2021 after a 12 year journey with Cancer. She entered this world on Wednesday, February 9, 1938, on a farm located in Hatchel, Texas. Her parents were Merrell Davis Graves and Neva Little Graves (Borders). She attended Hatchel School before she and her family moved to Ballinger, Texas. She continued her education in Ballinger and graduated from Ballinger High School in 1956. Even though she lived all her adult life in Winters, Texas she was always a Bearcat at heart. She always dreamed of being a wife and a mother. Her dream started coming true when she married Jack Wesley (J. W.) Burns on June 1,1956 and began their married life together in Winters, Texas. Cleadean was a stay at home mom when her children were toddlers and started working at Main Drug Store when her children were school age. While working at Main Drug Store she made treasured friendships with co-workers and customers. After leaving Main Drug Store she worked at the Fashion Shop, Barnes Radio & TV Repair Shop, and Wal-Mart. She retired from working for the public to pursue her love of oil painting. Cleadean would be driving on the highway and see a beautiful sunset or landscape and say, "One day I want to be able to paint that." She was a very talented self taught artist and painted many sunset and landscape pictures over the years. She traveled to area craft shows to sell her paintings, as well as being commissioned to paint paintings for individuals. She took great pride and joy in her oil painting. Each person that purchased an oil painting from Cleadean owned a piece of her heart. Cleadean owned Dean's Art Gallery and Studio where she displayed her paintings and taught oil painting classes to children and adults. She traveled to area towns to provide oil painting classes. She has told and retold so many stories of her painting classes and students with much love. She always treasured each friendship she made with her students and people that purchased paintings from her. She loved working in her yard and planting gorgeous flowers to pamper and enjoy by all. During the summers she and Jack always raised a bountiful garden of homegrown vegetables that they shared with neighbors, family, and friends. She loved to cook, sew, and decorate their home. She could upholster any piece of furniture and make it look amazing. She had a fabulous sense of style and a knack for decorating. She was preceded in death by her father, her mother, her step-father, Frank Borders, her brother, Noel Graves, her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Jesse (J. L.) and Nona Burns, and several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law. She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 64 years, her daughter, Lana Flint and son-in-law Randy of Ballinger, Texas, her son Keith W. Burns of Garland, Texas, her granddaughter, Renee' Fulton of Ballinger, her great-grandson, Landon Lynch of Ballinger, 2 grandsons of Ballinger, and 2 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews, Kilah Lane and husband Johnny of Christoval, Texas, Sandy Manicchia of Grape Creek, Texas, Noelisa Loehman, and husband Terry of Winters, Texas, Tammy Graves of San Angelo, Texas, Shari Graves and partner Amanda Tobias of San Angelo, Texas, Dena Santoya and husband Victor, Michael Patton and wife Dianna, Don Patton and wife Maggie of Winters, Jimmy Burns and wife Anna of Hobbs, New Mexico, several great nieces and nephews, great-great-nieces and nephews and great-great-great nieces and nephews. Cleadean is also survived by many friends and those she considered her 'adopted' kids that made her heart smile bigger on a daily basis. The family would like to express their gratitude for all those who sent cards, notes, and prayed for her. Special thanks to her caregivers and Ballinger Hospice nurses and nurses aides for the loving care of her during her last days on this Earth. "When I entered this world I was crying and you were rejoicing, Now that I am leaving the world I am rejoicing and you are crying." In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial donations be made to Meals On Wheels or a favorite charity. A memorial service will be held at a later date.