Joanne Burnette

Nancy “Joanne” Cheek Burnette, age 91, of Marion went to live with her Heavenly Father Thursday, September 4, 2025, at Brunswick Health & Rehab in Ash, NC.

Joanne was born April 18, 1934, in McDowell County to the late Ben Guy Cheek and Meta Pearl Messer Cheek. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 63 years, Clarence H. “Dugan” Burnette; a very special uncle and guardian, Boyd L. Cheek; and five siblings, Betty Sue Ledbetter, Frances Franklin, Norma Willis, Shirley Landon, and Mickey Cheek.

Joanne retired from Continental-Teves in Morganton. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to everyone she met. Joanne was a member of East Marion United Methodist Church.

Those left to cherish Joanne’s memory are one son, Dennis Burnette and wife, Lynn, of Ocean Isle Beach; two grandchildren, Lauren Arp (Ryan) of Goldsboro and Andrew Burnette (Catinca) of Raleigh; three great grandchildren, Gabriella Arp, Emerson Arp, and Seth Arp (Lauren & Ryan). Also surviving are her two sisters, Sandra Saaed and Terri Lane (Vincent) all of Morganton.

The family will receive friends from 11:00 am until 12:00 pm on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, in the chapel of Westmoreland Funeral Home in Marion. A funeral service to celebrate Joanne’s life will follow at 12:00 pm at the funeral home with Rev. Phillip Tate officiating. Interment will follow the service at McDowell Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a donation in Joanne’s memory are asked to consider East Marion United Methodist Women (UMW), P.O. Box 2481, Marion, NC 28752 or Services for the Blind, 2500 Heart Drive, Asheville, NC 28806.