Dusty Curtis Burleson

Dusty Curtis Burleson was born at Hendrick Hospital on September 10th, 1985, to Henry and LeaAnn Burleson. He passed peacefully surrounded by family and friends at Hendrick Hospital, after an unexpected brain aneurysm on August 4th, 2025 at 39 years old.

A memorial service celebrating Dusty’s life and legacy will be held Friday August 8th, 2025 at 10:00am at The Well Abilene, 137 Mesquite St, Abilene, TX 79601. Following the memorial service, the family invites you to join them for a time of fellowship and lunch.

He spent many happy years out on the family land in Eula, Texas. Shooting cans, helping Chris care for his FFA sheep, tormenting his sister, making Captain catch his baseballs, putting Captain on the hood of the riding lawnmower, and driving sideways down a hill so Captain would fall off of said lawnmower. He shared a room through many of those years with Clayton in the uninsulated attic of the farmhouse where even the heat of summer at 115 degrees and the arctic winter, he spent long hours perfecting his drum solo.

He started work at Batjer and Associates in 2005 and had just hit his 20th year anniversary with the company.

He met his future wife Toni at the Mission Church in 2005 and they married in July of 2007.

He was a very talented musician and could play just about any instrument he picked up. He spent many years in worship ministry playing music alongside Captain, and those were special years for them both.

Connor Rylan arrived in July of 2011 and Audrey Magee arrived in March of 2015. They were Dusty’s world, and everything they loved, he loved. Jumping from the softball field to the baseball field, you could always find him juggling games, recitals, and practices. Who did every science project with the kids with genuine happiness? Dusty. Who painted Audrey’s nails? Dusty. Who cooked and ran out the door with dinner in Tupperware with a smile on his face? Dusty. Who mastered the recital bun for Audrey’s dance class? Well, maybe not mastered, but Dusty gave it his all.

A perfect example of his selfless love was his patience with Toni through their constant Chick-fil-a visits even though he was beyond burned out.

He loved grandpa things like mastering the ideal coffee to creamer ratio, perfecting his really straight lines while mowing, perusing his cigar magazines, getting a fresh pair of new work boots, and he was very proud of his salt and pepper hair.

Honestly, Dusty was just a simple man. He loved some good tacos, as long as they weren’t greasy. He loved his family, being on the back porch with an occasional cigar, he loved being outdoors and loved being alongside his brothers teaching Connor everything from survival skills to whistling.

He was loyal, faithful, steadfast (sometimes stubborn), and selfless through and through. At his core, he was a man truly devoted to his family, and those he considered his family. He always found a way to carry them even if it meant one more thing was on his plate. He fought fiercely for them: through prayer, through hard work, and through faithfully showing up day in and day out.

A loving son, brother, husband, father, and friend, he will be missed more than words could ever say.

He is preceded in death by his oldest brother Jay Burleson, his father Henry Burleson, and his nephew Josh Smith, and “Nana,” Toni’s grandmother who was special to him.

He is survived by his wife Toni, two children, Connor and Audrey, his mother LeaAnn, his in-laws, George and Margaret Valdez, his sisters Staci (Zach), Denise, Kimberly (Eddie), and Sarah (Cody), and brothers Chris (RaDonna), Clayton (Kallie), and Captain (Beth), and his nieces and nephews who were very precious to him: Cameron, Kyler, Caden, TJ, Kaleigh, Addison, Carter, Scarlett, Parker, Scotland, Jude, Bloom, and Sunday.