Dorothy MacKnight Burnham

Dorothy M. Burnham, “Dottie”, passed away peacefully surrounded by family. A devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother, and respected member of the Utah real estate community, Dottie lived a life defined by hard work, service, and deep love for those around her.

Dottie was born to Crawford and Flossie MacKnight and was raised in Jensen, Utah. She came from humble beginnings and learned early in life the value of perseverance, determination, and hard work. As a young girl she loved spending time riding her horse, Helen, and developed a lifelong affection for horses and the outdoors. Influenced by her grandmother, Granny Josie, she spent her most memorable childhood days at her ranch, still located in Dinosaur National Park. These early experiences shaped the resilient and determined woman she would become as she worked tirelessly to build a life for herself and provide for her family.

She is survived by her four children: Cindy (Frank) Paskett, Clark Wanner, Michele (Omar) Juarez, and Robyn (Mike) Allen. She also leaves behind fourteen grandchildren, thirty-four great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren who brought immense joy to her life. She was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings Amy, Isabell (Bell), George (Boone), Betty, Frank, Jane, Wilda, and infant brother Abraham; her husband, Craig H. Burnham; and her beloved grandson, Jonathan Wanner.

With the support of her husband and family, Dottie built an extraordinary career in real estate that spanned more than four decades. She became a licensed Realtor in 1975 and spent much of her professional life serving clients throughout Davis County. Known for her integrity, work ethic, and dedication to her clients, she eventually led a success real estate team.

Her leadership extended far beyond her local community. Dottie served in numerous roles at the local, state, and national levels within the real estate profession. She made history when she became the first woman elected as President of the Utah Association of Realtors. Over the years she received many professional honors, including being named Realtor of the Year in 1989 and again in 1997. She was a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Club, an Honor Society member, Salesperson of the Year, CRS of the Year, and a Presidents Elite and Presidents Circle award recipient. For six consecutive years she was the number one sales associate in the South Davis office of Coldwell Banker.

Dottie’s dedication to service also included a four-year appointment as a Real Estate Commissioner for the State of Utah and six years serving on the Utah Appraiser Board. She later served on the Regional Professional Standards Committee for the Utah Association of Realtors, continuing to promote professionalism and ethics in the industry she loved.

Outside of her professional accomplishments, Dottie loved to travel and experience the world with her husband, Craig. They especially enjoyed cruises and treasured the opportunity to visit many beautiful places. These adventures brought them great joy and allowed them to create lasting memories with family and friends.

Above all, Dottie will be remembered for her strength, determination, generosity, and unwavering devotion to her family. Her legacy lives on through the many people she helped, mentored, and inspired throughout her life.

Funeral services will be held Monday, March 9, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main Street, Bountiful, Utah. A viewing will be held prior to the service from 12:00 noon to 1:45 p.m. Following the funeral, a graveside service will be held at 3:30 p.m. at Memorial Lakeview Cemetery, 1640 Lakeview Drive, Bountiful, Utah.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary Live Facebook page and on this obituary page. The live-stream will begin about 10-15 minutes prior to the service and will be posted below.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to her Symbii Hospice team—Rachel, Lilia, Joy, and MaryAnn—for their compassionate care, kindness, and support during Dottie’s final 9 months of life.

Dottie’s life was one of perseverance, accomplishment, and love, and she will be deeply missed by all who knew her.