David Alan Burnett

To his mom, Margie Norris, David was a Wild Child. He rarely looked before leaping, and the local ER knew him by name from his many exciting adventures.

To children, he was Uncle David. They brought out his laid-back, playful side, reserved only for those lucky enough to know him best.

He was the Critter Whisperer. He cared about animals. It took him a full year of coaxing to earn the trust of a feral cat and kittens that were living under the shed in the backyard. Mama came into the house as a member of the family for many years; her kittens went on to good homes.

To many, he was a Good Neighbor. His first paying job was at age 8, was catching snakes from the yard of an elderly lady next door. He collected them in a bucket and then turned them loose at a nearby park. He earned 2 cents each. He was the first one to volunteer if the mower went down, to help with a car repair, or to check in with someone he hadn't seen in a while. He felt especially protective and close to the young, elderly or sick, and went out of his way to provide meals, cut grass, or just check in to talk a bit.

To his friends, he was Red. He had many friends. His closest, dearest friends of many years were Chris and Denise, June, and Margie D. He loved to help out, and would jump in a heartbeat for a friend who needed help, or just wanted to spend the day fishing or watching movies. He trusted them enough to be comfortable opening up, and they got the gift of his humor, generosity, kindness, and love.

To us, his family, he was David. He was quiet and private; a man of few words, with a huge heart. He showed his love daily, through good deeds, bad jokes, and sarcasm... all with coffee, lots and lots of coffee.

To have him in our lives was a privilege. There are plenty of stories to pass on; some involving power tools, fish hooks, or some creative way to solve a problem that went...well, not according to plan- followed by the occasional trip to the ER. There are so many stories to share with each other, that they will keep us all connected through him. He would smile at the thought of the people he loved keeping in touch. We will smile and laugh, we will remember how much we loved him, and we will miss him, always.

David spent quite a bit of time at BJC Hospital, and the Siteman Cancer Center. Our family would like to thank everyone involved with his care, from doctors, to Radiation, Chemo, support staff; and finally to the nurses and techs, who showed such skill and compassion. They made things a little easier for David and our family. Many thanks also to BJC Hospice, who helped to grant his wish of being home for his last days.