Juanita June (Mooney) Burge of Bentonville, AR, formerly of Greenville, IL, died on June 2, 2024, at the age of  95. Juanita was born January 9, 1929, to Albert & Esther Mooney of Fritsten, Indiana. She was the oldest of 5 children. She died peacefully after a long struggle following a stroke in 2020.

Juanita moved to Greenville, IL in 1946 at the age of 17 to attend Greenville College. She met and married her husband of 68 years, Cal Burge her freshman year and they lived most of their years in Greenville until she moved to Bentonville, AR following her 90th birthday. Mrs. Burge graduated with a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Art, Home Economics and Library Science. In 1974 she went back to school at the SIUE to complete a master's and specialist degrees in School Administration.

Mrs. Burge was a favored and respected teacher. She taught in Centralia, IL, McPherson, KS,  Carlyle, Il, Lansing, MI, Pocahontas, New Douglas & Sorento, IL. She often taught night class at what is now Greenville University. However, most of her years were spent teaching Art at Greenville Jr. High School. She taught many subjects: Home Economics, Library Science, Social Studies, English, Child Development,  Reading, Third Grade, and Fourth Grade, however her favorite was teaching Art. Following retirement after teaching 35 years at Bond County Schools, she worked at Spring Arbor University, as a High School principal at San Diego Academy in the Dominican Republic, and then returned to Greenville to work a few years at the  Greenville Free Methodist Church.

She will be remembered for her creativity, her spunk, and her unbounded energy! She loved gardening and her  beautiful irises were enjoyed by many. She was an avid quilter and was an active member of the Bond County Quilt Guild showing many of her quilts each year at their quilt show. Her quilts were masterpieces of color,  flowers and design. Juanita directed many years of CYC (Christian Youth Crusaders) at the Free Methodist  Church as well as directing summer camps at Durley Camp. She began a group for Widows in the Church which grew and cared for many women. Mrs. Burge led, organized, and participated in countless church, school, and community organizations.

Juanita loved to have people in her home hosting 1000's of family members, college classmates, international  students, friends from the community and across the United States. She loved calligraphy, reading, sewing, swimming, and riding her bike. Often with a hoe propped up on the handlebars heading out to her vegetable garden at the edge of town. Mrs. Burge was a hospice volunteer and delivered Meals on Wheels for many years. She  was a friend to many, helping women and children from many different countries, backgrounds, and cultures to  pursue their God given potential. She fought hard for the underdogs, giving generously to make things better for the people coming behind her. Juanita faithfully prayed daily for her children, grandchildren, great  grandchildren, church family, friends, and those in need. She rarely sat down, continually looking for ways to help. In her later years she was able to travel to many countries visiting museums and gardens she had talked about. Her enthusiasm for life made her a life-long learner, loving nothing more than to meet new people and desperately trying to figure out someone they knew in common.

She was preceded in death by her father, Albert Francis Mooney; mother, Esther Pearl (Ivers) Mooney; her two  brothers, Thomas Mooney and Albert (Butch) Mooney; her sister, Mary Jean Patterson; her husband, Calvin Knox Burge; and granddaughter, Le'Brea Courtney Jones.

She is survived by three children, Barbara Ann Jones (husband Dick Jones) of Westcliffe, CO, Calvin Kenneth Burge (wife Cindy Burge) of Greenville, IL and Elizabeth (Beth) June Kenyon (husband Tim Kenyon) of Bentonville, AR. She was the proud grandmother of  10 grandchildren and great grandma of 24 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, June 29, 2024, at  9:30 a.m. at Greenville Free Methodist Church,  1367 IL-140, Greenville, IL 62246 with a celebration of life to begin at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be given to Durley Camp (durleycamp.org) at 1391 Woburn Rd, Greenville, Il 62246.  Memories and condolences may be shared at beth.kenyon811@gmail.com.

Arkansas arrangements are under the direction of Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory.  On-line condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.