Everett ”Mose” Burnham of Essex
answered his last alarm and joined his wife Ann (Oakes) Burnham in
heaven January 27,2011 after a brief illness. He was eighty four
years old.
Born to Hervey & Elizabeth
(Choate) Burnham on October 21, 1926 he lived a full life. He
attended Essex & Gloucester High Schools, graduating in January of
1945. Serving in the U.S. Army Occupational Forces he was one the
first troops into Japan. Following his Honorable Discharge he
returned to Essex. He worked with the crew making the film
“Shipbuilders of Essex”, appearing in the film as the young groom.
Following his graduation from Wentworth Institute, he began managing
the family business, Terminal Garage, which was located in the
center of Essex. For over forty-five years he drove the children of
Essex to school, operated snow plows and the rubbish trucks for the
Town of Essex.
In 1948 he married Ann Oakes.
Together they traveled and became an integral part of Essex.
He served on the Essex Fire
Department over forty years and was Captain of the Fire Company for
twenty years, retiring after serving ten years as Chief. He also
served on the Essex Planning Board and the Appeals Board.
He and his family camped all over
the United States and Canada, once taking a “road trip” to Alaska
with his wife. Along with dear friends Jack and Doris Donahue, the
Burnhams traveled around the world visiting son Michael while he
was in the Peace Corp. They also made five cross country trips with
the “Great American Old Car Race”, the two couples traveling in a
1927 Chrysler and 1936 Ford. He also loved sailing and boating on
the Essex River, and enjoyed many summers at his camp on the creek
at Lowe’s Island and was avid skier, skiing in North Conway and
Oregon. He was a founding member of the Witch Hill Ski Association.
Mr. Burnham was an active member
of the First Congregationalist Church of Essex and was Past Master
of the Manchester Masonic Lodge. He belonged to Scotish Rite
Bodies, York Rite, ALEPPO Shriners & Eastern Star.
His legacy of hard work,
community service and family devotion will live on in his sons
Westley Burnham and his wife Dawn, Michael Burnham, Dana Burnham and
his wife Sharlene, all of Essex, and his grand children Kelly
Burnham of CT, Erin Ricker and her husband Dan of NH, Nathan, Tyler
and Alec Burnham of Essex and great-grand-children Joshua & Emily
Ricker of NH. He is also survived by his brother Francis Burnham and
sister Nancy Lutts, both of Salem, and sister Ann Wendlandt of OR.
In addition to his wife Ann he was pre deceased by his son Dana
Henry Burnham. He will be missed by Cathy (Doyle) Fraser, Margaret
(Doyle) Hatfield, their families and all his friends in Davenport,
Florida especially Winnie DesJardines.
His family would like the thank
the nurses and staff on Johnson 2 and 5 at Beverly Hospital and the
Cove Unit at Ledgewood Rehab for their kindness and care over the
past three months.
His funeral service with Military
Honors will be held Friday February 4 at 2 pm graveside in the
Spring Street Cemetery, Essex, followed by a Memorial Funeral
service 3 pm in the First Congregational Church of Essex, Main
Street. Family and friends are respectfully welcomed. Arrangements
are under the direction Whittier-Porter Funeral Home of Ipswich. In
lieu of flowers contributions in his name may be made to the Essex
Fire Company Scholarship Fund, c/0 24 Martin Street, Essex, MA
01929.
