Myra Elaine Sheffield was born on May 24, 1928, in Hearne, Texas. She was the oldest of four children. Myra graduated from Ferris High School in Ferris, Texas, in 1945. Myra met Lesley F. Burney while working in Dallas, Texas. She described him as “the most handsome man I’d ever seen” when she first saw him as she boarded a bus he was driving. In July of 1948, they were united in marriage and to this union three children were born: Adrienne, Robert, and Fallon. After Lesley died in a tragic accident in October of 1953, she met and then married Grover Bruinekool in December of 1954. They moved the family to Pella, Iowa, in 1955. Myra lived in Pella until 1979, when she and Grover moved back to Texas. Grover died in 1992. She returned to Pella in May of 1996, where she lived until her death. Myra passed away on March 3, 2016, at the age of 87 years at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House in Pella.

Myra was affectionately known as “Granny” to her grandchildren. With her very Dutch last name, she always surprised people with her very southern accent, which she never lost and seemed to take great pride in. For many years, she enjoyed and was a great cook. Her own potato salad recipe was even used at the A&W Restaurant in Pella at one time. She was also well known for her sweet tooth, a trait which paid dividends for her grandchildren! Myra enjoyed music and singing in church, especially. One other thing of great value she has left behind is her “Black Book”, where she documented dates from almost every important family event, from births to weddings to deaths. She was preceded in death by her parents, Elizabeth Pauline King Sheffield and James Isam Sheffield, II, her brother, Vinton Cleon Sheffield, and her sister, Martha Juanelle Sheffield Bruinekool (Nell) and her husbands, Lesley F. Burney and Grover Bruinekool.

She is survived by her children: Adrienne (Bill) North of Bunker Hills, West Virginia, Robert (Cheryl) Burney of Webster City, Iowa, and Fallon (Debi) Burney of Pella, Iowa; her grandchildren: Chantelle (Tony) Burkhart, Kevin (Greta) North, Trevor North, Christopher Burney, Jamie (Don) Johnson, Jason (Britne) Burney, Jonyl Burney, and Rusty (April) Burney; her great-grandchildren: Matthew Burkhart, Simon Burkhart, Kaley (Michael) Moore, Brayden Black, Kenzie North, Megan Burney, Brandon Burney, Dirk Johnson, Blake Johnson, Natalie Johnson, Mackenzie Burney, Gage Burney, Jayde Bertran, Carson Bertran, Jordan Dowdy, Olivia Burney, Emma Burney, and Bella Burney; and one great-great grandchild, Ava Moore; her brother, James Isam Sheffield, III and a sister-in-law, Pam Rosales Sheffield of San Antonio, Texas.

[Van Dyk - Duven Funeral Home web site]