Kenneth Lynn Burns Sr.

Odessa American, Obituaries Jan 23 2004

Odessa, Ector Co. Tx

 Submitted by Dolores Bishop, Cemeteries of Tx

Kenneth Lynn Burns Sr.

ODESSA — Kenneth Lynn Burns Sr. was born May 16, 1928, in Holland, Texas, to Homer Aaron and Sarah Burns. Kenneth passed away Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2004, in Odessa.
The son of a Pentecostal minister, Kenneth grew up with a deep traditional faith. He loved the old hymns, like “I’ll Fly Away” and “The Old Rugged Cross.”
Kenneth came to Odessa in 1966 from Andrews. He worked for Great Western, which later became Loffland Bros. He quit in 1980 to start Burnsco, that specialized in blowout preventer repairs, which he owned for 24 years. He was well known in the oilfield and knew pretty well all there is to know about the oil industry.
Kenneth loved ranching and loved his ranch in Robert Lee. He had 310 acres on which he raised buffalo, goats, burros, cows and horses. He loved to sit and just count them all. It is said that he loved his ranch so much that within five minutes of any conversation, he would bring up either the ranch, his livestock or his pond. When the lake started to dry up, Kenneth built his own pond. He would have it stocked with 18- to 24-pound catfish, just so he could fish with his good friend Dr. Life Barnard.
Kenneth was not a man to show partiality to anyone, rather he loved all his family the same. Loved them all so much, in fact, that he bought them all Hummers; little yellow Hummer models. Kenneth loved toys such as RC cars and singing fish. But his all time favorite toy was his backhoe.
Kenneth was a hardworking man who was loved and respected by many people. He will be deeply missed.
Kenneth was preceded in death by his daughter, Linda Ferguson, and brothers Junior, Sherril, Moran and Aaron Burns. He is survived by his wife, Josephine Burns; sons, Kenneth Burns II and Randy Burns of Odessa and stepson, Charles Edward Fuller of Glenrose; daughters, Darla Nixon of Odessa, Paula Smeltzer of Cleburne and Donna Franks of Greenwood; brother, Paul Burns of Greenville; sisters, Betty Lister and Melba Easterwood, both of Greenville; 20 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at Sunset Heights Baptist Church with Pastor Jess Little officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Rodney Lee, J.C. Easley, Charlie Fuller, Joey Nixon, Henry Carroll and Jim Harris. Honorary Pallbearers will be Arthur Kirk, J.D. Brown, Floyd Coots and Dave Fitzgerald.