Marguerite Louise Burns, 96, of Herculaneum, formerly of Festus, died Oct. 26, 2018, at de Greeff Hospice House in St. Louis County. Mrs. Burns was a retired elementary teacher who taught in the Festus R-6 School District for 17 years. She was a longtime member of First United Methodist Church of Festus-Crystal City and the United Methodist Women, and a member of the PEO Chapter EH, the Order of the Eastern Star 417, Delta Kappa Gamma and the Jefferson County Retired Teachers Association. She was a volunteer with the Jefferson Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, the 2002 recipient of the Twin City Area Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service Award and was honored as the 2004 Festus High School Homecoming Parade Grand Marshall. Born June 13, 1922, in Leadwood, she was the daughter of the late Elizabeth Jane (Hartman) and James Stephen Francis. She was preceded in death by her husband: Robert A. “Bob” Burns.
She is survived by three nieces: Carol (Harold) Evans of Greeley, Colo., Charlotte (Dennis) Meron of Northfield, Minn., and Joyce (Dean) Christensen of Northfield; a nephew: James (Maureen) Francis of Hugo, Minn.; and numerous friends.
She was preceded in death by a brother: James H. (the late Dora Mae) Francis.
Visitation is scheduled from 3-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30, at Vinyard Funeral Home, 616 W. Main St., in Festus. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. and a funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31, at the First United Methodist Church, 113 Grand Ave., in Festus, officiated by Pastor Tish Green. Burial is in the National Cemetery at Jefferson Barracks. Memorials may be made to the de Greeff Hospice House. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home.