Person Page - 5

     Rena Annie Eastham was born on 8 August 1916 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.¹ She married Ira Owen Mjelde on 17 December 1941 in Kootenai County, Idaho, USA.¹ She married John Alexander Burness, son of John Masson Burness and Henrietta Deas, on 24 September 1956 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.² She died on 28 April 2004 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, at age 87.¹
     Obituary: BURNESS Rena Annie 1916 - 2004 Rena was born in Vancouver, B.C. on August 8, 1916 and passed away in her home on April 28, 2004. Her parents were Charles Stanley and Florence Eastham. She is survived by her sister Doris Galbraith, her brother-in-law, G.H. Curly Galbraith, and their children, Sharon of Seattle, Stan of Edmonton, Roger of Calgary and Brian of Barrie, Ont. She attended St. Mary's High School in Calgary and upon graduation went to Minneapolis to train as a Laboratory Technician. She pursued this career in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where she met and married Ira Mjelde. Upon his death she returned to Calgary. She worked several years for Canadian Superior Oil Ltd. in Calgary. In 1956 she married John Burness, proprietor of Burness Hardware. Upon his retirement they moved to Vancouver where they spent seventeen happy years. They returned to Calgary in 1994 to be near their family. John passed away on December 25, 2001. Rena has been a life-long member of First Baptist Church and was a devout Christian. Her greatest pleasure was in assisting and caring for others. A Memorial Service will be held at First Baptist Church, 13 Avenue and 4 Street West at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 17. In lieu of flowers it is suggested that donations be made to Operation Eyesight Universal, 4 Parkdale Crescent N.W., Calgary, T2N 3T8.¹

     John Burness was born in September 1831 in Mulloch, Banchory-Ternan, Kincardineshire, Scotland.^1,2 He was the son of Alexander Burness and Margaret Masson.^1,3,2 He was baptized on 16 September 1831 in Banchory-Ternan, Kincardineshire, Scotland.¹ He married Christian Gordon on 20 June 1863 in Port Elphinstone, Kintore, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.^3,2 He died on 11 September 1924 in Crossroads, Grange, Banffshire, Scotland.²
     John Burness (age 9) was enumerated in the census on 6 June 1841 in Mulloch, Banchory-Ternan, Kincardineshire, Scotland, in the household of John Masson. He was an agricultural labourer.⁴ John Burness (servant, age 19) was enumerated in the census on 31 March 1851 in Eslie, Banchory-Ternan, Kincardineshire, Scotland, in the household of John Mason. He was an agricultural labourer.⁵
     John Burness was enumerated in the census on 8 April 1861 in Banchory, Kincardineshire, Scotland, as a saddler, age 27, lodging in household of Isabella Malcolm, widow of crofter.⁶
     John Burness was enumerated in the census on 3 April 1871 in Walnut Cottage, Chapelbrae, Banchory, Kincardineshire, Scotland, as a saddler, age 39, employing one boy with Christian Burness, Jessie Burness and Jane Burness in his household. His house had three rooms with windows.⁷
     John Burness was enumerated in the census on 4 April 1881 in Lilac Bank Cottage, Bath Street, Banchory, Kincardineshire, Scotland, as a master saddler, age 49, employing one boy with Christian Burness, John Masson Burness, Jessie Burness, Jane Burness and Ann Gordon Burness in his household.⁸
     John Burness was enumerated in the census on 5 April 1891 in 18 Forteath Street, Elgin, Moray, Scotland, as a saddler, age 59, working on own account with Christina G. Burness and Ann G. Burness in his household. His house had five rooms with windows. There were two lodgers: Isabella Clark, dressmaker age 23, and Jessie Fraser, milliner age 21.⁹
     John Burness was enumerated in the census on 31 March 1901 in Hall Place, Elgin, Moray, Scotland, as a saddler, age 69 with Christina G. Burness in his household.¹⁰
     John Burness was enumerated in the census on 2 April 1911 in Crossroads, Grange, Banffshire, Scotland, as a retired saddler, age 79, with Christian Burness in his household.¹¹
     He made a will on 16 February 1923 leaving his estate (later valued at 1447 pounds, 11 shillings, 9 pence) as follows: monies on deposit at North of Scotland Bank (about 202 pounds) to be used to pay all debts and "whatever is left over of these monies to be divided equally among all my grandchildren"; and for balance of estate: "one hundred pounds sterling to my daughter Jessie Burness or Clark and one hundred pounds sterling to my daughter Annie Gordon Burness or Henderson. I have already given more than one hundred pounds sterling to my son John Masson Burness. After these two legacies are paid that the residue be equally divided amongst my three surviving children".¹²