Van Alstyne -- William H. "Sonny" Burns, 81, of Van Alstyne was born January 7, 1936 in Fort Worth, Texas to W. H. and Bertha Jordan Burns. He passed away Tuesday January 24, 2017 at Meadowbrook Care Center in Van Alstyne. Sonny was a retired Funeral Director.
He begin his longtime career in funeral service at the age of 13 working for Fox-Fanning Funeral Home
in Van Alstyne. In 1953 Don Flesher purchased the funeral home and Sonny worked for Flesher Funeral Home for many years.
He graduated from Van Alstyne High School and Gupton-Jones College of Embalming in Dallas, Texas,
in 1959. He received his Funeral Directors license in 1961. 
Sonny left funeral service and went to work for Texas Instruments where he retired after 20 years. After retirement Sonny went back to work for Flesher Funeral home. In 1986 he left and went to Levelland Texas and purchased the Smith Funeral Home which he changed the name to Burns-Smith Funeral Home. He sold the business in 1999 and moved back to Van Alstyne for his second retirement.
Sonny was not one to set around so he returned to work for Flesher to serve families and do the work he loved. In 2011Tommy and Bobbie Kay Scoggins purchased Flesher Funeral Home and Sonny worked for them until 2015 in which he retired for the third time. Sonny loved Deer hunting and went to his deer lease every chance he had. Sonny was loved by his family and many friends.
Sonny resided with Shirley Burns Triplett his loving caring companion. He is also survived by his daughter and son-law Karla and James Chandler of Anna. Grandsons: Kennon Chandler of Anna and Kaleb Chandler of Sherman. Granddaughter and her husband Kendall and Robert Morin of Van Alstyne. Great-grandchildren: Cash and Carena Morin of Van Alstyne. Brothers: John Bruce of Van Alstyne and Donny Bruce of Sherman.
Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday January 31, 2017 at the Van Alstyne Cemetery. Rev Donnie Neill will officiate. The family will receive friends Monday night from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Scoggins Funeral Home. Services are under the direction of Scoggins Funeral Home, 637 W. Van Alstyne Parkway, Van Alstyne. 903-482-5225