About noon on Thursday, October 19, 2023, while pleasantly dreaming, our dear Mother, Grand, Great and Great-great Grandmother, Charlotte Mary Tillotson Burgoyne, left us to return to her heavenly home from whence she came, to be reunited with many loved ones who have gone before. She leaves behind a large posterity; eight children, forty grandchildren, 142 great-grandchildren and fourteen great-great grandchildren. We will miss her presiding presence, but also rejoice in her new celebration of life.
She was born the daughter of Charles Ephraim and Alta Lenora Shurtliff Tillotson, December 16, 1926 in Ogden, Utah, almost ninety-seven years ago. On August 30, 1946, she was married to her dashingly handsome beau, Roger Dee Burgoyne, in the Salt Lake City Utah Temple; and their many years of marital bliss together, commenced and lasted for 68 years until his passing, November 22, 2014. Their children are: Charlotte Mary (Gary) Thompson, Kathleen (Terry) Campbell, Roger T (Lori) Burgoyne, Margaret (Steve – deceased) Cowgur, Janet Burgoyne, Sylvia (Keith) Pember, Martha Burgoyne and Eric T (Ellen) Burgoyne.
She is an industrious woman, an elegant lady of many talents and accomplishments; art, music, homemaking, teaching, performance, gardening, tailoring, interior decorating and family history; briefly touch on the variety of her expertise. She graduated from Utah State Agricultural College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics and Elementary Education, June 3, 1949; received her Master of Education Degree with emphasis on a Comprehensive Study of Art from Arizona State University, August 8, 1980; and retired from the Tempe Elementary School District after twenty-three years of teaching fifth and sixth graders, June 1989. Her life has been full and productive – she wasn’t one to just sit down. Wonderfully, she kept and has written a journal of her life experience, and has gifted each of her eight children with a large spiral bound book, a copy of her life’s proceedings which is an invaluable treasure.
She is beloved by her many grandchildren, school students and others that benefited from her attention; giving piano, drawing, pottery, painting and voice lessons throughout the years. Even her now grown-up adult elementary school students, would seek her out to visit her at home. She’s had a major impact on many young lives and has the gift of making each individual she associates with feel especially valued and loved. We will miss her dearly, but by her example, and through her large posterity, she will be remembered forever.
The funeral service will be held in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Evergreen Building Chapel, located at 700 South Evergreen Road, Tempe, AZ 85281, Saturday, October 28, 2023, at 11:00 am; with visitation beforehand at 10:00 am in the Relief Society Room. The interment will be on Wednesday, November 8, 2023 in the Montpelier City Cemetery, Montpelier, Bear Lake, Idaho, following a family graveside service at 2:00 PM in the afternoon.
Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.
I love this dear lady so much! She was always an amazing example of love and kindness. I was very blessed to be around her as much as I did.
My Aunt Charlotte was a regal queen of a woman. Beautiful, soft-spoken and artistically gifted to the max.She could sing like an angel.She was also a tremendous force for love and goodness. Although I was not geographically close to her after I grew up she was a real inspiration to me as a young girl and I admired and loved her. I have thought about her example often throughout my life.
My heart goes out to you Margaret. You always talked so lovingly about your dear mother. I know you will miss her each and every day. I am glad I got to meet her at one of our concerts. Take care, my friend.
Charlotte is an amazing person and was a wonderful Aunt to me! During my formative years in Elementary school in Montpelier, Idaho in the 1950s, we lived close by and I spent lots of time in her home where I enjoyed so much her warmth – she always treated me with such love and made me feel a part of her family when I stayed at her home when my parents were out of town. She helped me through those important formative years – although many years have passed, I have often thought of her wise counsel and example.
The years passed quickly, but our paths crossed again when we recently lived in Arizona after my retirement in 2018 for several years and I again had the privilege of living close by. My wife and I were able to visit her and renew fond memories and feel of her warmth and spirit. She always made us feel welcome and she talked positive and spoke well of everyone – truly uplifting to be with and a great example of true charity and enduring spiritual strength throughout her life. I am so grateful for Aunt Charlotte and for fond memories of her wonderful life!
I had the privilege of living close by during my times in Elementary School in Montpelier, Idaho in the 1950s
Such a loving and giving lady, an elect lady. As a boy and young adult, she would put food in front of me to hold me still I’m assuming and would lean across the kitchen counter and stare at me. She would compliment me about my eyes. I’d feel her genuine interest in me as a person. As an adult I reflect on that feeling of love often. I believe she treated everyone with great interest which is a testament of her character. You will be missed grandma—‘till we meet again.
-Paul Campbell