- Date Of Birth: February 28, 1934
- Date Of Death: July 15, 2019
- State: New Mexico
Wanda Elizabeth Lee Burnes was born on February 28, 1934 in Zeb, Cherokee County, Oklahoma to Violet Hazel Carr and Gerald Gene Burnes. She spent a large portion of her childhood years with various grandmothers, as well as aunts, uncles, and cousins in Oklahoma. As a result of this, she developed very close relationships with these family members, which has endured to this day.
Wanda married John Arthur Tedford on January 17, 1958 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She brought to this marriage three children from previous marriages; Donna Hazel, Patrick Allen, and Nina Elizabeth. To this marriage was then added five additional children: John Lawrence, Bridget Irene, Sarah Jane, Rolland Mitchell, and Alvie Ruth.
This family found themselves in Kirtland, New Mexico in 1961, where they subsequently joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They were sealed as a family on April 30, 1966 in the Mesa Arizona Temple. During these years, Wanda developed a great love of books and reading while selling the Encyclopedia Brittanica. She excelled in this endeavor. Wanda always had a love for learning.
Wanda loved her membership in the church and was diligent and faithful in giving service to others.
Wanda would say that her greatest accomplishment in life was her love of family. She is survived by her 7 children, 34 Grandchildren, 77 Great Grandchildren and 2 Great Grandchildren. Wanda was preceded in death by her husband John Arthur Tedford, Daughter Sarah Jane Tedford(Higgins).
