Francis Janetta Burgess

July 27, 1936 - February 26, 2022

Francis Janetta Burgess Francis Janetta Burgess, 85, lovingly known as "Sissy", of Tulsa OK, passed away on February 26, 2022, at her home in Tulsa, OK. Her funeral service will be held at 10:00AM on Friday, March 4, 2022, at the Moore Southlawn Funeral Home in Tulsa, Oklahoma with Kevin Peters, Associate Pastor at Park Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will follow at Westlawn Cemetery in Henryetta, Oklahoma. Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 3, 2022, from 12 Noon to 8 p.m. at the Moore Southlawn Funeral Home. Jan was born in Lequire, Oklahoma on July 27, 1936. She was the first child, and only daughter, of the late Carl Francis Lester and Julia B. (Bickle) Lester. Jan was baptized on April 13, 1952 and was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ. She graduated from Crowder High School in Crowder, OK and attended Oklahoma State University, where she earned a BA in Psychology and Sociology. Jan began her career in education and taught middle school history in Denver, Colorado. Returning to her native home of Oklahoma she worked many years for Reading and Bates Oil Company in administration. A creative person, Jan also spent several years as a cosmetology instructor at Brookside Beauty College after earning her degree in the same. The last years of her career were spent working for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services where she was a social worker. In 1984, Jan met Kenneth Burgess who shared her love for Native American art and gemstones. They were married March 1, 1985 until his passing September 8, 2005. Those were some of the happiest years of her life traveling together with Ken and sharing their common interests. Naturally talented, Jan studied art and became a painter in her own right with an impressive range of subjects. She was a collector and had extensive knowledge of a variety of fine things including antiques, glass and gemstones. Her extensive knowledge of Native American and Oklahoma history was beautifully represented in the pieces she created and collected. Sissy was the go to person for family history dating back centuries and selflessly shared her talent for genealogy research with family as well as friends. Jan also loved nature and especially horses and would sneak away to the stables when time permitted. Sissy treated her six nieces as if they were her daughters and showered them with love and affection from the day they were born. In the early years she could be found side by side with the girls making mud pies under the peach tree in the backyard, or on the floor playing jacks or pick-up sticks. Later in life Sissy devoted her life to her mother, caring for her for many years. Sissy was best known for her unconditional love of family and friends. She was a humble person with unending patience and an enormous heart. The impact she made on the lives she touched will be forever lasting, and the memories cherished forever. Janetta is survived by her brother, Carl Lester of Tulsa OK and her sister-in-law, Charlotte Lester of Tulsa OK, nieces, Karla (Bill) Rose of Henryetta, OK, Amber (Steve) Reeser of Edmond, OK, Sherri (Robert) Arend of Overland Park, KS, Debbie (Tom) Baldwin of Clever, MO, Julie Lester of Tulsa, OK, Step-son, Tyler (Lori) Burgess of Jasper, TX, as well as grand-nieces and nephews, Anthony (Amber) Rose, Curt Rose and Natalie (Logan) Britt, Kelsey Black, Riley Frost, Audrey (Cameron) McKaig, Alexandra, Michael and Nicholas Arend, Lucas (Jessica) Wilson, Samantha (Mike Salathe, Fiance) Duffy, Jacob Duffy, Charlotte Ann (Mikey) Saunders and great-grandnieces/nephews, Charli, Andi, Avery, Evan, Parker, Briar, Cohen, Beckham, Levi, Grace, Harper, Leila, Kael, Kerrigan, Halynn, Kira, Aiden and Oliver. She was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth Burgess, mother and father, Julia B and Carl F. Lester, her brother Wayne Lester and sister-in-law Delores Lester, her loving niece, Amy Lester, and great-grandniece, Lylli. Viewing will be 12Noon-8PM, Thursday, March 3, 2022 at Moore's Soutlawn, 9350 E. 51st, Tuls, OK. Funeral Service will be10:00 A.M., Friday, March 4, 2022 at Moore's Southlawn Chapel. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233