  Services
for David Edwin Burns, 96, who passed away Friday 19, 2017, were held
at Dannel Funeral Home Friday afternoon, February 24, 2017 with Rev.
Joe Ed Goolsby of First Methodist Church officiating.
Mr. Burns was born April 12, 1920 in the living quarters above the family's pub in Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland. He was the son of David and Sarah McCullouch Burns. The family moved to the United States in 1924, settling in Emsworth, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh, He attended Ben Avon High School where he lettered in football. He held his first job while still in high school. He was employed by the Allegheny Branch of the YMCA when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in September 1941. He was transferred to Sheppard AFB where he met his future wife, Mary Jane Bell, on a church hayride for the troops. He attended aircraft and engine maintenance school. He and Jane were in church when the news of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was announced. Then he was assigned to the famous "Jolly Rogers," 90th Bomb Crew H, 319th Air Force, to be stationed in the South Pacific theater for 4 years. He served as T/Sgt. Crew Chiefing B 24 "Liberator Bombers, receiving 6 overseas bars, one service bar, 1 engine maintenance badge, a Presidential Unit Citation with Oak Leaf Cluster. Additionally, he was awarded 2 Silver stars and 1 Bronze Star for service in 11 different military campaigns in defense of Australia, Bismark Archipelago, China, Leyte and Luzon Islands, Philippines, New Guinea, Paupau, Northern Solomon Islands, Southern Philippines and Western Pacific. He also served one year on the Marine Corps reserves and two tours in the Air Force Reserves. Upon returning home after World War II, David and Mary Jane were married in Greenville, Texas. They were members of Key Memorial Methodist Church for over 60 years. Mr. Burns worked 28 years for the Department of Defense at Perrin AFB, retiring when the Base was closed. The next day he went to work in the County Clerk's Office; then he became a Deputy for the Grayson County Sheriff's Office. He "officially" retired in 1983 but never truly stopped working. Mr. Burns is survived by his wife of 71 years; 2 daughters; 1 grandchild; and 2 great-grandchildren. Daniel was preceded in death by his parents; brother, James M. Burns. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to ARF House through their website.  The Herald Democrat August 10-12, 2019 Services for Mary Jane Bell Burns, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, cousin and aunt, who went to be with her Heavenly Father on August 6, 2019, were held at Dannel Funeral Home, Sherman, Texas, Monday morning, August 12. Burial was in Friendship Cemetery with services conducted by Rev. Dr. Cherie Fry, Chaplin at Heart to Heart Hospice. Mary Jane was born on September 30, 1922, in the Methodist parsonage, Bonham, Texas, daughter of Rev. Ben Bell and Ruby Simmons Bell. She graduated from Leonard High School, Leonard, Texas, and attended Texas Wesleyan College, Ft. Worth, Texas and Austin College. She married David Edwin Burns of Emsworth, Pennsylvania on September 23, 1945 in Greenville, Texas. Jane and David met in 1942 while on a church sponsored hayride when the Bells lived in Archer City, Texas, and David was stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base, Wichita Falls, Texas. Mary Jane lived in numerous small towns in north Texas such as Bonham, Howe, Wichita Falls, Frisco, Leonard, Whitewright, Archer City and Greenville, moving with her family as her father, a Methodist minister was transferred from one church to another. At this time, it was common Methodist church practice to move ministers around, almost on an annual basis. Along the way Mary Jane made many friends and enjoyed a lifetime of cherished relationships. One of her greatest joys was to be known as a "preacher's kid." After marriage, she and David moved to Sherman where they lived their entire married life. She started a career in the Abstract and Title field in Archer City and Greenville. Upon moving to Sherman, she continued what was to be a 50 years career with employment at Sherman Abstract Co. in 1946. She later joined Security Abstract & Title Co. where she served as manager f or 30 plus years After retirement, she returned to work at Sherman Title for 3 more years. She officially retired in 1996. Mary Jane was a longtime member of Key Memorial Methodist Church, serving in many capacities. She was an accomplished pianist who started taking piano lessons at age 6, and often accompanied the church choir during her father's Sunday sermons. She was a pianist for the Builder Uppers Sunday school class from its inception in the late forties. She was also known for being a caregiver to her aunts and other extended family. She also took art lessons and loved to paint still life in acrylics. Her family was always the most important thing in her life. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 71 years; brother, Ben Bell; sister-in-law, Joanne Grammar Bell; and her nephew, Billy Ben Bell. Surviving are her daughters, Janis Burns Oliver, and Brenda Burns Marr and husband, Larry; granddaughter, Baylee Jane, Gavin Burns, and Madelyn James; cousins, Carole J. Smith Kahle and husband, Dick; and Wayne Smith and wife, Shirley.   Friendship Cemetery Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |