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Pat G. Burns, 86, died peacefully on Monday, July 29, 2024. Pat was born in Birmingham, AL on July 16, 1938 and lived there until graduation from Woodlawn High School in 1956.
Pat G. Burns, 86, died peacefully on Monday, July 29, 2024. Pat was born in Birmingham, AL on July 16, 1938 and lived there until graduation from Woodlawn High School in 1956.From Birmingham, she went on to Montevallo University, where she soon met and married Bob Gonia (divorced in 1973). For the next 16 years, they were in ministry together serving local churches in the North Alabama United Methodist Conference, serving as missionaries to Indonesia with the Board of Global Missions, and helping form the Ecumenical Fellowship (lovingly known as the Ecumanics).
During these years, she also graduated from UAH with a degree in Mathematics and became a certified teacher in Special Education from UNA. Pat worked for Huntsville City Schools from 1970 to 1975 as a Homebound teacher. She went to the homes of students who were unable to attend classes due to illness and covered a variety of subjects and grades 1-12.
In 1975, Pat began a new career path in the world of Information Technology. She was a software engineer with General Research Corporation, then moved on to Nichols Research Corporation. Pat worked in several roles and retired as Vice President of Information Systems in 1995. After retirement, she continued working at Trinity United Methodist Church. She first was a volunteer helping reprogram the computer system, but then became the Director of the Personal Growth Center from 2000 to 2002.
Caring for family and friends has always been a top priority for her and there are many that she welcomed into the family along the way. She married Jim Burns in 1984, and he quickly became her biggest support! She was an amazing woman and lived a life full of love and hospitality. Pat was a lover of life who contributed to society outside of her career in many ways. She enjoyed teaching computer programming, hosting Super Bowl and Mexican dominoes parties, and was a very active officer in her HOA. Pat would always take the initiative to communicate with everyone about birthdays, emails, and updating addresses. You can also find her participating in dinner clubs and lunch groups regularly. Pat was a great mom, grandmother, friend, and wife.
Pat was daughter to Richard Lee and Hattie Eugenia Ackerman. Sister to Barbara Ann Goss. Mother to Debbie Gonia Hayes (John), Robert Mark Gonia (deceased), Junita Gonia Grantham (Jamie), Ronald Edward Gonia (Rachel). Grandmother aka “Gran Burns” to Chandler Hayes (Laura), Craig Grantham (Anna), Cris Grantham, Cayce Hayes, Kayla Grantham Brown (Daniel), Jessica Gonia, Trey Grantham (Michelle). Great-Grandmother to Clover Hayes, Evalyn Hayes, Millie Grantham, James Brown, Grayson Grantham. Aunt, niece, and cousin to many more!
There will be a celebration of her life on Saturday, August 10th at 3:00pm. The family will receive visitors from 1:30 – 3:00. The service will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church, 607 Airport Rd, Huntsville, AL.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of Limestone County, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and/or Trinity UMC in Huntsville, AL.
