Sarah Katherine Burch

Sarah Katherine Burch

Sarah Katherine Burch, (nee Earnheart), 107, of Bothell, Washington, passed away peacefully on April 11, 2026, at BloomCare Adult Family Home.  A celebration of her life will take place at Bothell United Methodist Church on May 31, 2026, at noon.

Born in Pendleton, Oregon, on September 14, 1918, Sarah was raised on a wheat ranch 14 miles from town.  She was the youngest of four children and idolized her parents, both of whom had been raised in Deepwater, MO. Sarah’s parents, Ott and Cordie Earnheart were sweethearts in Missouri and found their way to Oregon to marry.

As an elementary school student, Sarah rode her cantankerous Shetland pony Captain three miles to and from the schoolhouse in Cold Springs Canyon. During junior high and high school, she stayed with her cousins and Aunt Effie Evans in Pendleton.  Sarah learned to play piano and accompanied other musicians in recital. Sarah’s mother, Cordie, paid for Sarah’s lessons in barter with cleaned chickens, eggs, butter and cream.  Bartering was a way of life during the Depression.  Sarah attended Oregon State College in Corvallis, Oregon, and later enrolled at Eastern Oregon College in LaGrande where she graduated with a degree in education.

Sarah met her first husband, Philip Earl Miller, at the Pendleton Methodist Church; they dated until 1937 and were married at her parents’ ranch on Christmas Day. Phil worked for the Oregon Highway Department and so he and Sarah traveled widely throughout the state during their first years of marriage.  In early 1942, Phil enlisted with the US Air Corps and was trained to install radio and radar equipment. He eventually went on to flight school and piloted C47s, delivering sensitive freight throughout the Pacific Theater. Sarah and Phil’s son, David Philip Miller, was born in 1943. Tragically, Phil’s plane went down in September, 1945, and was missing for fifty years before its wreckage was discovered in 1995 in Indonesia. The US Army recovered the remains in January, 1999.

Sarah and a precocious David lived with her folks at the ranch in Pendleton while she completed her degree in Elementary Education in August 1948. After graduating, she began a teaching assignment in small town Reith, Oregon. No longer riding a pony, she drove her brand-new 1949 Ford to and from school. On April Fool’s Day, 1950, Sarah met Jerry Casseday, a former B29 pilot, at a dance in Hermiston, Oregon. After a whirlwind romance, the two married on June 4th of the same year. Over the next five years, while living in Dayton, Washington, Sarah and Jerry had three beautiful and brilliant girls: Roseanne, Mary Lue and Katherine.  Jerry was the regional oil distributor for Shell Oil and the family eventually relocated to Walla Walla, Washington. Sarah was widowed for the second time when an explosion claimed Jerry’s life in 1961. Throughout the difficult years that followed, Sarah bravely and lovingly supported her young family as a single mother.

In 1967, Sarah remarried, this time to Charles Philip Burch–also a World War II pilot (B26 planes). At the time, young Katherine and Mary Lue were in elementary school, while Rosie was a high-school student, but Charlie was undaunted by the prospect of becoming their stepfather; his steadfast devotion to Sarah and the girls became the foundation of a lasting partnership that endured for 15 years. Charlie succumbed to heart disease in 1983, leaving Sarah, once again, a widow.

Sarah was a loving and generous person, giving support to so many with grace.  Not only an amazing mother, Sarah was a loving auntie, grandmother and great grandmother.  In her father’s image, she was generous with time and money – always on the lookout for any need she could ease.  Sarah volunteered in many capacities through her life – as a Scout Den Mother and PTA President in Dayton, as a member of the United Methodist Women and Delphian Club in Walla Walla.  She was always an advocate for women and children.  Sarah was an artist, gardener, animal lover, avid reader and correspondent. She sent birthday cards to her many nieces and nephews and friends. Her calendar was filled with notes of birthdays.

Sarah was preceded in death by her three spouses, Philip E Miller, Jerry Casseday and Charles P Burch, and her daughter Roseanne Casseday Ross.  She was the last of her generation in her family.  She is survived by her children, David Philip Miller, Mary Lue Hart and Katherine Gay Casseday (Bryan Faubion) and her five grandchildren, David (Evangeline), Ric (Karry), Margaret (Dave), Joie (Nate) and Sarah (Peter).  Great-grandchildren include Lyla, Zac, Mia and Stella.

Sarah lived through up and down economic times as well as periods of loss and grief.  Throughout her amazing life she continued to love and be loved by family and friends.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to your local animal shelter or underprivileged children charities. Sarah was a strong advocate for animals and children in need.

Friends and family are invited to the Bothell United Methodist Church on Sunday May 31, 2026 at noon for a service and fellowship time together.  Bothell United Methodist Church is located at 18515 92nd Ave NE, Bothell, WA 98011.  Please RSVP to Mary Lue (503 551 1877) or Katherine (206 450 8758) to let us know you can come.