The Angelic Hosts came for Mr. Billy Joe Burns on May 23, 2018, at his Park Manor residence in Desoto, Texas among loving family and devoted friends.
Viewing was held Friday June 1, 20 at Moore’s Angelic Funeral Home Chapel.
Funeral Services were held Saturday, June 2, at 11:00 AM in the Teague Church of Christ, 1001 N. 8th Avenue with Brother Jared Matlock officiating and Rev. Roderick Cunningham serving as Eulogist.
Interment was in the Antioch Memorial Cemetery with Military Funeral Honors.
Billy was the fourth of eleven children born to Jessie Burns, Sr. and Bethenia Carter Burns in Freestone County near Fairfield, Texas, on December 29, 1936.
As a youth, he grew up on a farm, where he stayed busy planting and harvesting crops. Billy professed Christ as His Savior and Lord at a young age and became a member of the Fairfield Baptist Church. Billy also found time to entertain his family with jokes and enjoyed going fishing with his brothers. He received his education at Dogan High School in Fairfield and later received his G.E.D.
Billy left Fairfield in 1956 and after spending a brief period in Dallas he joined the U.S. Army. He received his military training in North Carolina, Washington, and Alaska and was honorably discharged in October 1957.
He moved back to Fairfield where he met and married the love of his life, Joycie L. Jones in July 1958 and enjoyed a 59 year marriage. From this union, four children were born and the family soon moved to Teague where Billy met a lifelong friend in A.G. Sartor and bought property on the west side of town where they built their home.
Billy worked at the Teague Brick & Tile plant with many other friends prior to joining the Texas Dept. of Transportation in 1969 where he worked as a highway maintenance technician for 25 years and retired in 1995.
He loved his family and taught them many fundamentals of life including how to work hard. He always offered good advice to family and friends. Billy particularly enjoyed fishing with Claude Philpott, raising cattle, playing dominos, and spending time with family.
After retirement, he and Joycie traveled some and cherished spending time with grand children and participating in church activities. Billy joined the Westside Church of Christ and was baptized in the faith on February 26, 1978.
He was a member of Freestone Masonic Lodge, and was a city council member in Teague for a brief period.
During retirement, he also enjoyed van driving to transport Freestone county elderly to doctor appointments. The Burns house was always open and Billy is known for his generous spirit of sharing, quick wit and humor, and keeping his family united. He also loved to bar-be-que, cook and eat purple hull peas, and ice cream.
He leaves to cherish his memory: Wife, Joycie L. Burns, Desoto, Tx; Sons Bobby Burns and wife Stephanie (Teague), James Burns and wife Angela (The Woodlands), Daughters — Kathryn Love and husband Edward (Desoto), and Patricia Burns Simon (Teague). Grandchildren: Melanie Abor, Cassey Daniels, Michael, Timmy, and Brandon Campbell; Brandi Burns Bridges, James C. Burns, Kendall Love, Trentston Simon and Tiffanie Simon. He has 9 Great grandchildren and other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents Bethenia Carter Burns and Jessie Burns, Sr.; his siblings: Fred Wayne Burns, Christene Burns Gibson, Floyd Ray Burns, and Paula Burns Lott. His surviving siblings are Helen Maxine Willis (Fort Worth), Leonard George Burns (Fairfield), Loutish Burns (Missouri City), Jessie Burns, Jr. (Missouri City), Joyce Burns Spears (Houston) and half-brother Frank Morton (Fairfield).
Moore’s Angelic Funeral Home, 406 Monroe Street, Teague, Texas provided the professional care for the Burns Family.
