Marie Claire Burkholder, age 78, of Harpersfield, went to be with the Lord on Monday, November 18, 2013 at Geneva Retirement Village. She was born February 15, 1935 in Ashtabula to Emma (Benson) & Lewis Enquist. She married Gordon Burkholder on December 27, 1953 in Austinburg. Together they operated Concord Acres Fruit Farm in Harpersfield for 59 years, the last 50 years with Welch’s.

Marie moved to a poultry farm in Austinburg at age 6 months. She was a 1953 graduate of Austinburg High School. She enjoyed planting and gardening flowers, traveling, photography, genealogy and sending cards to family and friends. Marie was a member of South Harpersfield United Methodist Church, Covered Bridge Society and the Ashtabula County Historical Society. She loved animals, especially cats. Marie was a very loving, caring and giving person, mother, wife and grandmother.

She is survived by her husband, Gordon; daughter, Rose Marie (Dave) Keyes of Harpersfield; son, Jeffrey (Susan) Burkholder of Harpersfield and grandchildren Claire and Ben Burkholder. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Friends will be received 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, November 21, 2013 at The Behm Family Funeral Home, 175 S. Broadway, Geneva, OH 44041. A funeral service will be held on 11 a.m. Friday, November 22 at the funeral home. Pastor Shirley Stoops-Franz of South Harpersfield United Methodist Church will be officiating. Final Resting Place will be Unionville Cemetery in Unionville.

Contributions may be made to Harbor Light Hospice, 734 Alpha Drive, Suite C, Cleveland, OH 44143 or Ashtabula County Animal Protective League, 5970 Green Road, Ashtabula, OH 44004.