Candace Leitzell (Leitzell) Burlison

Candace Leitzell Burlison

Born: Wednesday, March 26th, 1930 Raton, New Mexico

Died: Wednesday, April 7th, 2121 Albuquerque, New Mexico, aged 91

She was preceded in death by sister, Patricia (George) Bischoff and brother-in-law, Albert “Mac” McNiel.

Candace is survived by her sister, Linda “Penny” (Leitzell) McNiel; children, Jay Burlison, Kelly Burlison, and Michael (Tammy) Burlison; grandchildren, Joey Bramlett, Kelcie (Casey) Spurgin, Daniel Burlison, and Keven MacRunnels; great-granddaughter, Ancelle-Rhône Spurgin; and nephews, Carl Bischoff and Todd (Pam) Bischoff.

Born in Raton, New Mexico to John Wilbur and Vivian Varo Hintze Leitzell, Candace lived a long, varied, interesting, and adventurous life. She lived her first nine years in a gold mining camp in the mountains of northeastern New Mexico. After graduation from high school, in Cimarrón, she attended Trinidad Junior College, in Trinidad, Colorado, majoring in journalism. She worked in Los Alamos when it was still a secret city, then transferred to the Los Angeles offices of the Atomic Energy Commission. There she met a merchant seaman, and after a short time in the LA area, they travelled to Seattle, put themselves, all their possessions, and a large Doberman into a 16 foot open boat with a cranky old motor, and went to Alaska. During her 10 years there she had three children. She lived in various parts of Alaska, including one tiny settlement, (four cabins) called Loring, 30 miles by boat from the nearest town, Ketchikan, where she helped feed her family by canning deer meat and salmon. Her first son was born in Ketchikan - Candace got on the mail-boat by herself to go into town when the time came. The old sea-captain did not like it much, but he took her anyway. From there the family moved to Sitka and then to Nome. In the ferocious Nome winter, she bundled up her first-born and walked a mile into town for groceries, and one summer in Nome, walked a mile to the hospital to deliver her second born. In her retelling, she remembered the wildflowers along the way - fireweed, forget-me-nots, and arctic cotton. Her third-born arrived when she was living in the “big city” of Juneau.

Eventually, she returned to her home town of Cimarrón, New Mexico and became a successful business-woman. After 24 years there, she moved the business, Incienso de Santa Fé, to Albuquerque, where it thrives to this day.

Retirement afforded more opportunities to travel - she loved travel, and driving, especially the back roads, often jumping in the car just to see what was over the next hill.

Candace was kind, compassionate, generous, intelligent, courageous, and strong-willed. Her sense of humor was unique - quick, quirky, perceptive, never mean - and frequently employed. For her entire life, she remained deeply curious about a wide range of subjects and read avidly. She loved most kinds of music, especially that of the of the Big Band era.

She admired the creative endeavors of others and pursued several creative endeavors herself, including photography, mostly of the natural world, which she loved, although she was not “outdoorsy”. One place where her aesthetic sense really shone was interior design - unique, original, always tasteful, using an incredibly diverse variety of materials - mostly inexpensive or family items, plus arts-and-craft show finds, mementoes from her travels, her photographs, and found objects from her walks and drives. She made many of her own and her children’s clothes and her cooking was skillful and imaginative.

A few years ago, Candace moved to an assisted living facility, when it became apparent to her that she would at some point require additional care. Even in her small quarters, her decorating style and interesting collections continued to delight her caretakers and visitors.

Especially important during the COVID isolation, Candace enjoyed the friendship and support of a small community of residents who shared memories, music and cigarettes under the gazebo at the facility where she lived.

A tremendous source of comfort and help to both Candace and her family was her Silver Linings Hospice Care family. Particular thanks, and heartfelt gratitude go to Lydia, Loretta, Erinn, Ana, and Kyle for their professionalism, compassion, and caring.

Even toward the end of her life, with increasing health issues, Candace remained determined to do as much as possible for herself and under her own power. She reached the end of the trail, peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by family, with a gentle smile on her face.

The family plans a small private ceremony, returning Candace to her New Mexico mountain home, in the fall.

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