Ileta Faye Burkett, 91, of Loveland, Colorado, formerly of Ft. Morgan, went to be with the Lord on June 4, 2026.  Graveside services will be held at a later date in Canyon, Texas.
Ileta was the daughter of Merlin L. George and Lela Mae (White) George.  Ileta had four siblings, Ann Birch and husband Harvey, Doug George (deceased), David George and wife Carolyn, and Kathleen Fiel and husband Sandy.
Ileta is survived by her husband Charles B. Burkett, Jr. of Ft Morgan, CO; her children Bob Burkett of Montgomery, TX; Becky Bates and husband Stan Bates of Georgetown, TX; Brenda Lauer and husband Mike Lauer of Sterling, CO, and Barbara Owen and husband Rick Owen of Arvada, CO.  She has eight grandchildren:  Braden Burkett, Bryan Burkett, Karen Nash, Carla Smith, Morgan Irion, Taylor Prior, Bryce Owen, and Blake Owen and thirteen great-children as well as an extended family of cousins, nieces and nephews.
Ileta was born in Rose Bud, NM on December 9, 1934 and lived the first 17 years of her life in and around Amistad, NM where her parents ranched and where she went to school through her Junior year of High School.  Amistad school system did not provide for a 12th year of education so Ileta moved to Clayton, NM and boarded with a family for her last year of high school.  It was at Clayton High School that she met and fell in love with Charles.  They graduated together in 1952 and were engaged shortly after.
Ileta and Charles married on April 18, 1953 and initially lived in Albuquerque, NM.  They were married for 73 years.  Ileta worked in an administrative position prior to becoming a mother after which time, she focused on being a homemaker.  Charles credited Ileta with being the glue that held the family together and always gave her accolades for being able to stretch the budget during the lean years as he established his career.  She followed him through a number of job-related moves to Dumas, TX, Keyes, OK, and Ft. Morgan, CO.
Ileta became a Christian at the age of 14 when she was a member of the United Brethren Church in Amistad, NM.  While living in Dumas, TX she and Charles attended the First Baptist Church and she decided to be baptized as a further testament of her faith in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.  Ileta's faith was evident in how she lived her life from being a Sunday School Teacher, participating in women's bible studies, and serving on various committees to driving friends back and forth to doctor's and chemotherapy appointments.  She ensured that her family attended church and that her children participated in the many youth activities that the church provided.  While her dementia robbed her of many memories, she always loved listening to the old hymns of her youth.
Ileta had an undying mother's love for her children.  She supported them in their education, in athletics, and in life as they became parents.  She loved her grandchildren and loved seeing them and catching up on their lives.  She enjoyed time with friends playing golf, bowling, and meeting weekly for coffee.  She had many talents and found joy in painting, quilting, crocheting and knitting.    She loved to read and could often be found sitting in a quiet corner of her home with a book.  When she was diagnosed with dementia, her husband Charles took care of her at home for many years until he was no longer able to do so.  In her final years she was cared for by loving health care professionals at The Harmony Home in Ft. Morgan, CO and Good Samaritan's Village in Loveland, CO.
It is said that the illness of dementia will make the individual with dementia barely able to appreciate all that people are doing for him/her; but, the family knows, friends see, and above all, the Lord knows all that is done to care for and love those that no longer have the capability to express their thanks.  It is with deep gratitude that we say thank you to all who shared in the final journey with Ileta.
While Ileta will be missed by all who knew and loved her, we rejoice that she has been fully healed and restored and is in heaven where we will one day be with her again.
Memorials may be made in Ileta's honor to a local hospice organization.
And now these three remain:  faith, hope, and love.  But the greatest of these is love.  I Corinthians 13:13