Nora Reed Burleigh Scholarship

The initial funding of this scholarship endowment was contributed from the Dr. and Mrs. Richard Muriel Saunders and children; Anne and Paul. The scholarship has been established to honor the memory of their long-time family friend, Nora Reed Burleigh.

Nora Reed Burleigh was born on July 14, 1931 and passed away on March 12, 2018. She was a beloved mother, grandmother and friend. Born in South Carolina, she moved to Grand Junction in 1958 with her husband, Dr. Thomas Burleigh, and their four young children, Dorothy, Linda, Thomas David and Susan. Three more children, Joseph, Richard and Anne were born in Grand Junction. A single mother since 1968, Nora worked as a Realtor and later a Registered Nurse in the recovery room at St. Mary’s Hospital, but the job to which she dedicated heart and soul was being an outstanding mother and later a strong and supportive grandmother.

The first of her family to attend college, Nora received her nursing degree from Emory University in Georgia, including pediatric training at New York City Hospital in 1950. Nora passed on her belief in the importance of higher education to her children and grandchildren and sought to make certain each had the education and ability to pursue their career passions. Nora was stunningly successful in this endeavor as every one of her children and college-age grandchildren obtained or are in the process of obtaining one or more college degrees.

Nora was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Parish and later Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Parish and her children attended the respective parish schools. She worked as a volunteer in the schools and her churches, and in retirement volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, including building houses in Mexico, assisted with blood drives throughout western Colorado, volunteered with her church, and served in a host of other volunteer capacities.

She also loved to travel. In addition to visiting family throughout North America, including every grandchild’s graduation or premier event, Nora traveled to the Panama Canal, Great Britain, Canada, Europe, Peru, Greece, Egypt, China and Hong Kong. Her life was rich with family, friends and experiences. She will be greatly missed.