Laura E. Van Cleave, 78, passed away peacefully Sept. 11 at her home in Burns after a short illness.

Laura was born Nov. 10, 1942, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Clifford and Norma Muncey. She graduated high school in Salmon, Idaho. On Aug. 18, 1962, she married Duane Van Cleave, and they raised three children together. In 1981, the family moved to Burns where she became active in the community. She began working for HHOPE where she worked as the director for 32 years. Laura contributed immensely to the program until her retirement. Laura spent eight years as a Burns city councilor and went on to become Burns mayor for another eight years. She was named Woman of the Year in 1998 by the Harney County Chamber of Commerce. She was a member of the Pioneer Presbyterian Church and enjoyed volunteering for the Harney County Senior Center. She was an avid and skilled crafter and loved making homemade gifts  and giving them away. Some of her favorite things to do was to read, camp, fish, and work puzzle books.

Laura is survived by her husband, Duane; daughter, Lari Higgins, and son-in-law, Todd; sisters, Connie Hurst and husband, Donald, Diana Potoroff and husband, Jim, and Julie Pfenninger and husband, Charles; grandchildren, Ty and Dallon Higgins; and many, many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her sons, Ryan and Jody; parents; brother, Virgil; and sisters, Paula and Beaulah.

Funeral services for Laura will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, the Burns Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Harney County Hospice or Pioneer Presbyterian Church.