Clemme Burton

Clementine C. Burton (affectionately known as “Clemme”) resident of White Oak Community in Tryon, N.C., died November 4, 2007. Born in 1920, in Sharon, Pa., to Nicholas and Florence Crishon, Clemme was one of five sisters and two brothers raised in a family of Romanian heritage. She graduated from Grove City College, did graduate work at Penn State and taught in High School until she married Frederick H. Burton in 1946.

She moved from Cumberland, Md., to Rock Hill, S.C., in 1948. From 1948 until 1966, she raised her children and was active in her church and her community as a member of AAUW and the League of Women Voters. In 1966, she moved to Ridgewood, N.J., as a part of a corporate promotion. In Ridgewood, she continued to be an active community leader and a good friend. She and her husband, Fred, retired to Tryon in 1983. They filled retirement with travel, friends, church and community leadership until his death in 1996.

After the death of her husband, Clemme became even more active in her community giving time and talent to her church, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, St. Luke’s Hospital, Lanier Library and the Outreach Ministry. She studied religion, enjoyed the company of friends and continued learning about the world until the day she died. An avid reader, a gardener and a social bridge player, she passed her love of family, her wit, her dedication to service, her passion for learning and her deep faith to her four children and their spouses, Linda Burton Salane and her husband, Thom, of Columbia, S.C., Fred Burton and his wife, Tami, of North Potomac, Md., Chuck Burton and his wife, Charlene, of Saluda, S.C. and Mark Burton and his wife, Pat, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Her legacy of faith, family, laughter, learning and service lived in her eight grandchildren: Jeff Burton Salane and his wife, Adrienne, of Brooklyn, N.Y., Matthew Salane of Jacksonville, Fla., Meagan Crishon Burton, graduate student at University of Vermont, Dylan Burton, USC Honor’s College freshman, Kelly Burton, High School junior in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Donovan Burton, High School sophomore in North Potomac, Md., Thomas Burton, 6th grade student in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Dakota Burton, 6th grade student in North Potomac, Md., and her first great-grandchild, Wren Maysen Salane.

Predeceased by her husband, two sisters and two brothers, she is survived by a great-grandchild and two sisters, Delores Idomir of Texas and Rorie Carnino of Pennsylvania.

A true friend to others, Clemme was sustained throughout her five month illness by the tangible love of her many friends. She and her family are thankful for the many cards and visits from people whose lives she touched.

A mass for Clementine Burton will be held at St. John’s Catholic Church in Tryon November 17 at 1:30 p.m. Family will receive friends at her apartment at White Oak (apartment 305) November 17 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in celebration of her life. Memorials may be made to The Outreach Ministry, P.O. Box 834, Columbus, NC 29722.

“We are thankful she was a part of our lives.”

(Information found in Clementina Burton's obituary published on November 11, 2007 in "The Island Packet")