John Patrick Burt

A funeral service will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, December 9, 2023 at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home in Temple, Texas with visitation prior to service from 1:00pm - 2:00pm at the funeral home.

A Graveside services will be held at Greenwood Memorial Park in Fort Worth TX on Monday, December 11, 2023 at 1:00pm.

Mr. Burt was born in Neshoba County, Philadelphia, Mississippi on January 20, 1943 to John L. Burt and Ida Francis (Kilpatrick) Burt.

He is a graduate of Neshoba County High School in 1961, East Central Junior College in 1963 and Mississippi State University in 1965 with a degree in Civil Engineering.

First employment in 1965 was with the U.S. Army Traffic Ability Research Section of the Waterways Experiment Station in Vicksburg, MS. The primary mission was to develop tools to predict and improve the mobility of military equipment in Vietnam.

Mr. Burt joined the U.S. Army in 1966. He received an officer commission as 2nd Lieutenant and entered the Medical Service Corps, United States Army in Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas.

His first military duty assignment was in the Military District of Washington, Washington, D.C. The next assignment was Vietnam from 1967 to 1968. He was awarded the Bronze Star medal for Meritorious Achievement in ground operations against hostile forces, primarily controlling Bubonic Plague during the 1968 Vietnam Tet Offensive. Other medals received include the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal (3 Campaign Stars), Vietnam Campaign Medal, and 2 Overseas Bars. John completed military service as a Captain in 1969 at the 3rd Army, Environmental Health Laboratory, Fort McPherson, Atlanta, GA.

Upon leaving the Army in 1969, John was employed by the USDA, Soil Conservation Service in Jackson, MS. as an Environmental Engineer. He was the first Environmental Engineer hired by the Soil Conservation Service.

John met his wife, Betty Lea Douglass in Jackson, MS and the two were married on March 17, 1973.

In 1976, Mr. Burt was promoted to the South National Technical Service Center in Fort Worth, Texas. This position provided technical assistance to Soil Conservation staff in 12 Southern states. During his tenure at this location, he received numerous awards including the USDA Superior Service Award in 1982.

In 1989 John was promoted to the National Headquarters of Soil Conservation Service in Washington. D.C. He was selected as a member of the Senior Executive Service of the United States of America and served in different leadership capacities.

In 1997, John returned to Texas as the State Conservationist. He retired from this position in 2002 after 31 years of service. He enjoyed traveling, fishing, and spending time with family.

He was a member of First Methodist Church of Temple and Sons of the American Revolution Texas Society.

John is survived by his wife Betty Burt, son Brian Patrick Burt of Round Rock, son James Michael Douglass and wife Ruth Anne of Clifton, TX and daughter Stacey Lea (Douglass) Boiles and husband Ronnie of Crowley, TX. He also has four grandchildren, Lauren Douglass, Jordan Hainsfurther, Trevor Boiles and Juliann Boiles along with one great granddaughter, Annabelle Hainsfurther.

John was precedent in death by his parents and siblings Dr. James Lamar Burt of Jackson, MS and Mary Faye Blackwell of Hattiesburg, MS.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Parkinson’s Research Foundation (www.ParkinsonHope.org) or First Methodist Church of Temple.