Jeanette Burgess was born as Nancy Jeanette Ferguson on June 19, 1943, in Stockton, California. She never went by Nancy. Her father, Everett Hamilton Ferguson, was in the Army at the time. He never went by Everett. He preferred Ed, or formally, E.H. Jeanette's mother was Reva Jean (Kimbro) Ferguson.  Most people called Jeanette's mother by both of her names, but Jeanette's father was for some reason often heard calling for his wife, Ohhhh, Reeba.

After the war, the Fergusons moved back to Arkansas to live with Reva Jean's parents in Warren.  In the 1950s, they moved to Eudora, Arkansas, where Ed Ferguson began to work in the body shop of the local Ford dealer, before later owning his own independent body shop. Jeanette grew up in that small town with a younger sister, Linda, and a younger brother, Alan Kimbro Ferguson.  In the apparent family tradition of not using given names, her brother went by Kim, although Linda went by Linda.

In high school, Jeanette loved to pal around with Bobbie Faye Gamble (later taking the last name Ferguson, although no relation to Jeanette) and Beverly Binn (later Squibb). These three amigas remained friends their whole lives. Jeanette attracted the attention of a high school football player, James G. (Jimmy) Burgess, who was one year older.  Despite having broken his leg on the football field, and despite not having a car, he kept an eye on her and found times to connect.  As he puts it, "I'm sulking with my bad leg. And they're tolerant of me. That's what it amounts to. But they didn't ignore me, so that was good." Despite those obstacles, he managed to sweep her off her feet.

Starting one year apart in 1960 and 1961, Jeanette and Jim enrolled at the University of Arkansas at Monticello (go fightin' Boll Weevils). At the time it was called Arkansas A&M University. Jim studied pre-med and was so motivated he left college for medical school in Little Rock, Arkansas, as soon as he could — before he had graduated. He assures everyone that was allowed at the time.

Jeanette studied music in college … but she married Jim Burgess on August 26, 1962, at the ripe old age of 19.  As Jim recalls, "Well, between my sophomore and junior year [of college], Reva Jean decided we needed to get married because we were too hot for each other. She said, 'Y'all need to get married.' And I said, 'Well, fine, you know, I'm ready.' And Jeanette said, 'Yeah, I'm ready. I'm ready. I think we can do it.'"  Laughing, he adds, "We had no clue. We had no money." As a result of that wedding, when Jim departed for med schooI, Jeanette left college early, too. She made money for the young couple as the organist at Immanuel Baptist Church of Little Rock, and later as a secretary at Reynolds Aluminum.

In 1965, in the midst of med school, Jeanette gave birth to their first child, Stacy.  In 1968, just after Jim completed his internship and about a month after he had to leave for flight surgeon training in San Antonio, Texas, they had their son, Brian. Next the Air Force moved their young family from Little Rock to Fairfield, California, and then when Jim was sent on to South Korea, they got a home back in Eudora so that grandparents could help with the kids. (In 1970, that house burned to the ground in an electrical fire, helping keep Jeanette on her toes.) In 1973, after Jim completed his military service and while in residency in radiology, they gave birth to their third child, Jill. (For those keeping score at home, Jeanette's children use their given names — Stacy, Brian, and Jill — breaking with their mother's family tradition. But Brian's son Everett often goes by Rhett, and his daughter Aubrey often goes by Bree, so we suppose the tradition lives on.)

Jeanette and Jim moved their family to Russellville in 1974 and made it their lifelong home. Jim and his partners grew Radiology of Russellville to where they covered over seven hospitals across the state. At the same time, Jeanette was active in her kids' and later grandkids' schools, was enthusiastically involved in P.E.O.; volunteered with Meals on Wheels and charitable organizations focused on helping women and children; and was busy at First Baptist Church of Russellville. She also worked hard to keep her elementary-age son Brian's hair long and thick, over his objections … to the point where Meals on Wheels recipients would thank the "nice little girl" carrying their food. Age-induced hair loss may make that hard to believe today, but it's true.

In these years, Jeanette was the ultimate hostess. She always made it look effortless.  She imparted her love of hospitality and of cooking to her children … so that every party, and even every weekday meal, is a tribute to her.

Once their children were grown, Jeanette and Jim continued to enjoy a great life. They were active owners of quarter horse racehorses, running their "babies" on tracks in Oklahoma and California, and near their second home in Ruidoso, New Mexico. They traveled with their children, too, taking trips to Australia, New Zealand, Chile, England, and other far-flung places.

In 2015, Jeanette was diagnosed with Parkinson's. She accepted the diagnosis with her characteristic strength, grace, and class. Until the end, she remained funny and kind. She watched hours of Little House on the Prairie episodes in the last few years. She was once asked who her favorite character was, and her husband tried to answer for her, "Laura."  She corrected him, "Nellie.  She knows how to get things done."

She passed away quietly at the age of 81, on December 28, 2024.  In her final days, she was surrounded by her husband of 62 years, Jimmy Burgess, and her three children.

Her memorial service is set for her 82nd birthday, June 19, 2025. As Jim says, she never much liked winter anyway, and she always loved the flowers.

She is survived by the love of her life, James G. (Jim) Burgess, M.D.; her daughter and son-in-law, Stacy and Bill Rowlett of Russellville, Arkansas; her son and daughter-in-law, Brian and Karen Burgess of Austin, Texas, and Park City, Utah; her daughter and all-time favorite (we all know and don't begrudge her, really!), Jill Burgess of Austin, Texas; five grandchildren, Amber (Kenny) Smith of Los Osos, California; Katie (Ryan) Black of Vista, California; Chase Rowlett of St. Louis, Missouri; Everett Burgess of Eugene, Oregon (moving to Washington, D.C. in July 2025); and Aubrey Burgess of Austin, Texas (until last month, of Boston, Massachusetts); and three great-grandchildren, Maxwell (Max!) Smith, Juniper (June!) Smith, and Gracie (Gracie!) Black.

She was predeceased by her father, Everett Hamilton Ferguson, in 1992; by her mother, Reva Jean (Kimbro) Ferguson, in 2012; by her sister, Linda (Ferguson) Meadows, in 2011; and by her brother, Alan Kimbro Ferguson, in 2016.

A memorial service celebrating Jeanette's life and legacy will be at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, June 19, 2025, her birthday,  at First Baptist Church of Russellville, under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville.

Jeanette, Mom, Mimi … we love you and miss you.

Online guestbook and condolences available at www.shinnfuneral.com .