Burline Hensley

Burline (Cargill) Hensley, a resident of Chowchilla, CA was born on January 5, 1935 in Blaine Bottom, near Keota, OK and passed away on March 21, 2015 in Madera, CA at the age of 80. She was a graduate of the Chowchilla Union High School Class of 1952. Burline worked for the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, now known as Farm Service Agency. Burline began her career with the USDA in Merced. After many years of service, she transferred to the California State Office in Sacramento where she was a program specialist. She was awarded the Administrator’s Service Award for service to agriculture. It is their highest honor awarded. Burline retired from the USDA in 1990 after over 33 years of Service. She retired as a District Director, the first female DD ever in the State of California. After retirement she started an agricultural consulting business and retired again in 2009 due to declining health. She was a member of St. Columba Catholic Church and the Chowchilla Lions Lioness Club. Burline was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, James Hensley; her parents, James Oscar and Willie Mae Cargill and a brother, Bonner Carson Cargill. Burline leaves behind her daughter and son-in-law, Diane and Gary Schoonhoven of Weiser, ID; their children, Gerrit, Jason (Sandra) and Casey (Brittany); and their grandchildren, Emily Jae and Aiden Ray; daughter, Rhonda Roduner of Chowchilla; her children, Jeramiah (Jackie), Lucas, Nolan, Hannah and Jakeb; her grandchildren, Riley, Rhys, Zane and Cayden; daughter and son-in-law, Sheryl and Rick Thomas of Gold Hill, OR; her children, Joseph (Amber) and Kimberly McKissick; her grandchildren, Autumn Louise, Joseph Andrew and Macie Mae McKissick and Kelly and Cody Haney; brother, Boyd Cargill of Temecula; sister, Barbara (Jerry) Easley of Richmond, IN and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Recitation of Rosary will be at St. Columba Catholic Church, 213 Orange Ave., Chowchilla, CA on Thursday, March 26, 2015 at 9:30am with The Funeral Mass to follow at 10am. Interment will follow services at Chowchilla Cemetery, 23359 Rd. 14 1/2, Chowchilla, CA 93610.