Stephanie Burton's life of adventure ended unexpectedly on Saturday, December 2, due to injuries sustained by being struck by a car while walking to see the Festival of Trees in Sandy, Utah.
Stephanie Jean Burton was born on August 8th, 1971 to Jamie Hinck Burton and Lois Elaine Burton in Afton, Wyoming. She grew up working hard on the family ranch raising and milking cattle and hauling hay. Stephanie was very intelligent and quick: she mastered several musical instruments; she excelled in school and was named Salutatorian of her graduating class in Star Valley High School. She attended both Ricks College (now BYU Idaho) and Utah State University on an academic scholarship, studying Human Resource Management, which she utilized as head of human resources for Snowbird Ski Resort, and the Utah Olympics Parks Recreation Board. She left work in human resources and became a nurse to pursue the one hobby she held above eating candy and listening to Donny and Marie Osmond: travel. Fearless and full of energy, Stephanie did more than see the sights—she hiked, camped, motorcycled, ATV'd, rafted, zip-lined and scuba dove her way through many exotic locations, including China, Spain, Mexico, Aruba, Chili, France, Peru, and dozens of U.S. National Parks and camping sites. Her latest adventure was a trip to Fiji where she went scuba diving with sharks!
As a nurse, Stephanie cared for patients as though they were her own family. She was always willing to mentor a nursing student, take on a difficult case or an extra shift. Doctors respected her. Coworkers were delighted that she was always ready with a smile and a good story. She spent 7 years on Floor West caring for cancer patients, surgical patients, and medical patients. After also caring for her best friend of ten years, Glenae Turley, who lost a battle to liver cancer in 2015, Stephanie worked in labor and delivery, caring for high risk and low risk pregnant mothers and babies.
Stephanie adored and was adored by children and youth. She was a popular swimming teacher in Star Valley. She was "the favorite aunt" and her nieces and nephew would wait anxiously for her to visit with her bag of candy and wonderful, infectious laugh.
Stephanie was a loyal, inspiring friend. She was more than the life of the party; she was the axis the fun revolved around. She served everyone, including and especially God, generously and with full purpose of heart. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, she had a deep understanding of her beliefs and lived them with complete integrity, serving at times as a Gospel Doctrine instructor and Relief Society President and perhaps most memorably, as Emergency Preparedness Coordinator.
Stephanie is survived by her father, Jamie Hinck Burton (Angela), sister, Andrea Lee Burton, brother, Clint Fielding Burton, brother, Todd Rulon Burton (Alisha), nephew, Andrew and nieces, Elise, Everlyn, and Isabella, step-siblings, Chad Buchanan, Cameron Buchanan (Jenilyn), Trevor Buchanan (Misty), Tyson Buchanan, Emily Jenkins (Tod) and Hillary Kilroy (Levi) as well as scores of close friends.
Stephanie was preceded in death by her mother, Lois Elaine Anderson Burton, and her grandmother, Verna Graham Anderson Kennington, grandfathers, Rulon Anderson and GlenRichard Kennington, grandmother, Laura Jensena Hinck Burton, and grandfather, Fielding Call Burton.
There will be a viewing for StephanieFridayafternoon December 8th from 3:00 to 6:00pm at the Holladay Stake Center:4568 Holladay Blvd. Her funeral will be at6:30pmalso at the Holladay Stake Center. A light meal for family members will immediately follow.
A Graveside Service and Dedication will be held onSaturday December 9that the city cemetery on Madison and 9th Ave. in Afton, Wyoming, close to where her mother is buried, at2:00 pm. There will be a family luncheon at2:30 pmat the Afton 3rd Ward building at165 E 5th Ave. Afton, WY 83110
