Burns Family 2018

It’s been awhile...2014 was our last posting

and we begin with this disclaimer:


If you think all is roses...it’s not…
but our lives are filled with joy
more often than sorrow.
If it seems like we are bragging...we probably are…
but hopefully we are sharing the love
we work hard to maintain.
If you are already sickened by our schmaltz…
send this to the bin NOW ! 



+2016, 2017, and 2018!


In the last four years we lost three incredible loved ones.





Jeff’s mother June passed away in 2015 at the age of 90.

She played the piano at church the Sunday before her stroke.

Her four children gathered at her bedside.

Though she never regained consciousness we held her hand,

cried, sang, played bagpipes, joked, and reminisced.

She was a remarkable person and we all value the years we shared with her.




Karen’s father Paul died in 2017.

We had many wonderful years with him living in Gig Harbor

and he lived a good life to the age of 93.

We’ll miss his puns, jokes, and stories

(no matter how many times he repeated them).

He was a big part of our family and the greatest generation.




Lastly, our beloved Tolliver left us in 2018, age 15...what a dog!

We love telling stories about him...

like the time he snagged two pumpkin pies on Thanksgiving morning...

leaving the crusts...

or the time he popped, chewed and swallowed a whole basketball…

or when he would put his 115lbs. on top of Grandmother Burns

while she sang old songs in the backseat of the car...what a dog!





Oz & Fuzz


All our pets are gone and though we will miss them,

we’re in no hurry to replace them.

Our future travel plans will be so much simpler.

Someday we'll settle down and have another pet to snuggle on our laps.





Starting with our youngest, Claire (29) and her fiancé Miguel

moved to New York City. She works for Amazon.

Her entire team was on the East Coast

so Amazon lured her away

but she has firmly told them it will be for only two years.

They both consider Seattle and Washington their home.

On their trip to Italy, Miguel proposed in the Tuscan hills.

We are truly blessed to have Miguel as part of our family.



Ian (31) and Annelie were married in our front garden in 2017.

A beautiful day in July will be fondly stored in our family’s memories.

Annelie works for Planned Parenthood and

Ian is beginning a five year apprenticeship to be an electrician.

They are dedicated members of Socialist Alternative

and are very busy making a difference in Seattle and our nation.





We feel that our family is very well balanced.

Claire works for Amazon - Ian protests Amazon.





Karen and Jeff are not on oxygen.

We have been living in remodeling dust for the last 18 months.

We accomplished a lot but we are slowing down

and will enjoy living in our house,

minus the workers tearing down and putting up…for the time being.

Karen loves retirement...

a beautiful new deck overlooking the South Puget Sound

... gardening...reading and cooking.

Her latest project is providing a playground for our squirrels!

Jeff has settled into a fairly calm retirement.

He is busy planning our first major retirement trip to the East Coast.

He looks forward to our annual family reunions

in the wilderness of Northwest Montana

...fly fishing... reading... genealogy research

and cooking but very little gardening.


We know that for many of you it seemed we had fallen off the map

but we hope this update will encourage you

to send a note, text, email or even be our guest on Fox Island.

Our warmest regards to you and yours.





End of a Foggy Day

0ctober 2018

Karen & Jeff Burns

1035 Paiute Trail

Fox Island, Washington

email : kbklibrary@gmail.com

orff@aol.com

Karen’s cell (253) 970-3604

Jeff’s cell (253) 970-0809