David Lee Burns bid farewell to the pleasures, duties and struggles of earth on Thursday, August 29, 2024. That was only 81 years, 6 months, 2 weeks and 5 ½ days ago, that he was born and welcomed into the home of Jesse Willard Burns and Lavada Jamima Barto Burns in Superior, Arizona.

Three months later the family moved to the Carton and Grant County areas where David's dad was employed in different occupations ranging from mining to ranching. Ranch life was "kinda hard" but David and his sisters changed the chores into games that he remembered fondly. David and his dad managed a ranch for H. Bronson McKeen. It was like 2 ranches-one was basically raising cattle while the other, along with the cattle, was a bit of a farm where hay, grain, and vegetables were grown and that is where the ranch and farm equipment were maintained.

David was partial to that part of the work and made some changes which made his job a little easier at gathering time. His dad said that real cowboys didn't work that way so when it was time to move back to the other cattle ranch house, David stayed behind. He kept the upper place running smoothly and attended Reserve High School with perfect attendance until the Holliday break. He never graduated from high school, which he regretted.

In spite of not finishing high school, David opened Burns Cabinet Shop and later got his contractor's license. David like to make things look nice which was reflected in his woodworking skills. He could build just about anything from houses to toys. Many people have gun cabinets, chests of drawers, children's furniture, cabinets, baby beds, and picture frames that he made.

David moved to Tyrone and when Phelps Dodge Corp. reopened the mine, there he was on of the early employees. He quickly moved from the bull gang to truck driver to dozer operator and then to shovel operator. He was a shovel operator when he retired. A few years later he went to work for Mimbres Regional Mental Health, Inc. as head of maintenance. He took care of the offices in Reserve, Deming, and Lordsburg as well as the main office in Silver City. It was hard for him to retire and leave that job and all the friends he had there.

David was preceded in death by his father, Jesse Willard Burns; his mother, Lavada Jamima Barto Burns; his sisters, Geneva Burns, Lorine Watkins, Laverne Deacon, Alice Farrell, Mary Barid, Jean Thomas and Betty Bridgeford; his first wife, Carol Stephens, mother of their daughters, Dorothy Crosby and Barbara Burns.

He is survived by his current wife, Marilee Burns; and by Kathe Beeson who is the mother of their daughter, Brenda Powell and their son, David Lee Burns, II; step children Christopher D. Sturdevant, Robbin Arellano, Lee G. Sturdevant, April Sturdevant, and William B. Sturdevant as well as numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Although David will be missed, he would not be pleased if we stopped doing the best we can to care for each other and the earth. He would have us go forward with faith and hope because "Can't never did nothin."

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 10:30am at Terrazas Funeral Chapels with Billy Billings officiating. Family and Friends will be gathering to honor his memory.

Cremation will take place at Terrazas Crematory. Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels and Crematory "Trust care for the ones you love" ~ 575-537-0777. To send condolences, visit www.terrazasfuneralchapel.com.