Robert Shawn Burton

Robert (although no one called him that) Shawn Burton, 61, of Amarillo took the trip to the big lake in the sky on Thursday, July 25, 2019. Case, Shawn’s 7 year old grandson said, “great, now our family is going to be boring!”

Shawn’s life will be celebrated by all those who knew and loved him on Saturday, August 3, 2019 at 2pm in the Memorial Park Funeral Home’s Chapel of Memories with Scott Edwards-Elder leading the party.

Shawn came into this world on November 18, 1957 in Goodland, KS (find that without Google) to Clayton and Myrna (Winter) Burton. In his younger years, he wrestled, winning the Golden Shoes. He loved to grill, fish, and hunt. He was an avid Denver Broncos fan, and enjoyed the Texas Longhorns. He was a rare breed of a man. The type who just lived, and seemingly didn’t dwell on the end. By trade, he was a truck driver, or better known as a professional steering wheel operator who logged over 18 million miles behind the windshield (is that some kind of record, sheesh?). How many guys do you know who loved the lake but hated to be in the water? Well, Shawn DID! He didn’t need flip flops because he had his tennis shoes on deck at ALL times when he was on the boat. Call it oxymoronic, but he got it done! Don’t dare try to tie something down when he was around. It wasn’t “Dad tight” and would be corrected with the final “it ain’t going anywhere” approval declaration. The kids were forced to hurry up, only to wait for the dictator they knew as Dad who took his sweet time. When working or being around Shawn, you could expect to be asked to hand him “that one thing” because he just didn’t know what “that one thing” was actually called. He was a leader. He led with compassion, and knowledge. The most knowledgeable things he offered were watch the weather, and nothing good ever happens after midnight. He was a funny man. The type who would do something just to get a laugh. Lord forbid you ever catch him without Peanut M&M’s in his pocket. That just didn’t happen. Those who truly knew him knew, the only thing he loved more than his M&M’s was his dog. The biggest thing that can be said about this larger than life person, it’s that he loved everyone, AND HE TOLD THEM! His friends and family knew him by many names such as Mean Gene, Skeeter, and S.O.B.(the literal version)! He was caring and compassionate. The type of guy who could, and let’s face it, we all knew he did cuss like a sailor but had a heart bigger than Texas that was made out of gold. The most important thing in the world to him, was his family (except for maybe those M&M’s). He loved, cherished, and honored them with every single fiber of his being. Shawn genuinely loved life and lived it to the absolute fullest. He would give, even if giving meant he went without. Not enough could be said Shawn. To honor him, tonight grab your favorite adult beverage, pop the top; and toast the stars!

Shawn leaves behind a legacy that only few men will ever be able to reach. Those left to cherish it are his beloved Pam whom he married in August of 1981 and shared this wild ride of a life with since, his three children who still wait on their dictator to make them hurry up, Ashley Gaines and husband Scott, Megan Burton, Michael Burton, and Brandon Villa; or as he knew them Richard, P.1.E, and C-Mike. And we couldn’t close without mention of his grandkids, Brekyn, Sidney, and Case Gaines.