Obituaries

Elaine Virginia Berner

Photo of Elaine Virginia Berner
Elaine Virginia Burk Berner, a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away Nov. 12, 2012, at the Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale. She was 87 years old. Elaine was lively and engaged in life, often laughing and joking with friends until a stroke several weeks before her death. She was devoted to her family and her greatest love was for her husband, Edward. He was her partner-in-life for nearly 67 years, until his death in February 2012, just nine months before hers. Elaine was born July 13, 1925, on her family's farm in Elm Springs, Ark., the daughter of Andy and Anna Bradley Burk. She was the youngest of the Burks' five children, two of whom died in early childhood. Of the children who lived to adulthood, her brother, Chester, and sister, Lois, were 16 and 13 years older, respectively. Elaine sometimes spoke of how the circumstances made her mother protective of her youngest child. Elaine went to school in Elm Springs until moving on to Springdale High School which she attended through 11th grade. She graduated from Cave Springs High School in 1943, newly-opened for her senior year. Shortly after graduation, Elaine traveled to California by train to live with her sister and brother-in-law near Los Angeles. While in California, like other young women during World War II, she helped with the war effort by working in a defense factory. Meanwhile, a young Navy man, also from Elm Springs, heard Elaine was living in Southern California and called her for a date. Edward Berner — who in his teens had worked for Elaine's father on the farm — had long had a crush on lovely, red-headed Elaine. Ed had just returned from Guadalcanal and was completing his military service at the naval base in San Diego. The two Arkansans were engaged just a few months later and they were married in San Diego City Hall on May 4, 1945. Later that year, the newlyweds returned to Arkansas to start a family. While Ed farmed, drove a truck and eventually started his own carpet cleaning business, Elaine supported their family at home in Springdale. She was the main caregiver for the couple's two boys, Ken and Richard, who fondly remember the hot breakfasts she prepared every morning before school. When Elaine became a grandmother, she cared for her granddaughter on a daily basis until she began kindergarten. In 1971, Elaine went back to work outside the home, selling women's clothing at The Boston Store in Fayetteville. A few years later she moved on to Dillard's, where she worked for 13 years. Throughout her life, Elaine enjoyed sewing, crocheting, quilting and other needlework. Until she started working in retail, she sewed many of her own clothes, as well as for her sons and granddaughters. After retiring, the Berners lived in Fort Meyers, Fla., during the winter months. There Elaine loved taking a picnic to the beach and playing cards with friends. She also increased her production of quilts, afghans and other craft projects. The Berners enjoyed entertaining their friends in the retirement community, and relished visits to their Florida home by their sons and granddaughters. At home in Springdale, Elaine and several childhood friends gathered for weekly card games. She also looked forward to the weekly ladies' quilting group at Elm Springs United Methodist Church. Elaine is survived by two sons, Ken Berner and his partner, Kim Neyman, of Fayetteville, and Richard Berner of Winder, Ga.; one granddaughter, Kristi Berner and her husband, Geoffrey Gloak, of Kinderhook, N.Y.; one great-granddaughter, Gemma Gloak; one niece, Janice Burk Mounger of Siloam Springs; four sisters-in-law, Pauline Wilson of Mesa, Ariz., Elsie Westerfield and Lois Berner of Little Rock, and Brenda Berner of Colorado; and one brother-in-law, Chester Berner and his wife, Jewel, of Rogers. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Edward; one brother, Chester Burk of Siloam Springs; one sister, Lois Burk Moore of Gentry; and one granddaughter, Jenny Berner of Oakwood, Ga. Family visitation will be Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Memorial Funeral home in Springdale. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale or the Elm Springs United Methodist Church Building Fund.

Published November 13, 2012

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