Mary "Ludene" Burtcher (aka Dene, Speedy, or Granny Goose) was born June 13, 1928, in Denmark, Arkansas to Vadie (Williams) and Elmer VanWinkle. She was raised in Bradford, Arkansas with her numerous siblings, where she met and married Elbert Burtcher on November 5, 1948. In 1951, they moved to California settling in the Kern County area. Ludene worked various jobs such as picking and hoeing cotton along with working in the potato and carrot sheds. However, her most beloved job was raising her five children and caring for her husband of 67 years. Her favorite hobbies were canning, camping,hiking, and fishing. On April 1, 2016, at the age of 87, Ludene passed quietly in her home in Shafter, CA. She was preceded in death by her son Lester McDougal of Bakersfield, CA, and grandson Leo Wilcocks of Porterville, CA. She is survived by her loving husband Elbert; her daughters Lula Johnson of Shafter, CA, and Rosann Christolear (Wayne) of Bakersfield, CA; her two sons Edmond Burtcher of McGehee, Ar, and Tommy Burtcher (Shanon) of Bakersfield, CA; numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great- great grandchildren. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, April 9, 2016, at Seventh Standard Pentecostal Church of God, 32186 Seventh Standard Road in Shafter, CA, at 11am with a reception immediately following. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity.