Alice Lucille Burns, age 84, closed her eyes forever at 1:36 p.m. on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, during surgery at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Her death resulted from a bacterial infection stemming from a routine medical procedure gone bad. Her departure from this world and her entry into God’s kingdom was the cause of the deafening thunderclap heard around the world at approximately the same time. The thunderclap was the sound of the breaking of her family members' collective hearts.
Alice was born on October 15, 1937, as the third child of what would become a large family in Piedmont, Missouri. Her family was poor but rich beyond measure in love for one another and in Jesus Christ. Growing up during hard times, she developed an unrivaled work ethic. She picked cotton and was more productive and “better” than anyone at just about anything she attempted.
In 1962, she met, as she described: “the man of her dreams” and/or the “love of her life” in John Burns. They married in 1964 and were together for 58 years. They had two sons and proceeded to conquer the world. Her two sons grew up thinking she hung the moon. She had many jobs over the years, but her natural born calling or vocation was as a saleswoman. The Alaskan In’upiat (Eskimo) people did not realize their desperate need for ice water until they met Alice.
Alice had a deep Christian faith and loved her family fiercely. She was fearless and unequivocally certain of her destination after she left this life. She, even in her later years, had a passion for helping and caring for the “old folks” without family of their own. It is undocumented, but Alice is generally considered to be the inspiration for the main character of Hugh Lofting’s The Story of Doctor Dolittle. There is not an animal on the planet that did not love and that was not loved by Alice. She could soothe a shark or tame a lion in an instant. She leaves behind three dogs, a husband, two sons, and a daughter-in-law that desperately miss and love her. If you ever had the privilege of knowing her, you were blessed.
Alice is survived by her husband John M. Burns; her two sons, John Keith Burns, William F. Burns (Kimberly); five siblings: Louise Lawson (Edward), Edna Danels; Jim Lunyou (Cathy), Wayne Lunyou (Deanne), and Alan Lunyou (Pam), and many nieces and nephews.
Please join us for celebrating her life. The visitation service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens located at 3700 North Germantown Parkway, Bartlett, Tennessee 38133. The Funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m. at the same location.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or any worthy dog rescue organization of your choice.
John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you that in me you might have peace. In this world you will have tribulation: but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemphisFuneralGermantownParkway.com for the Burns family.
