Burley D. Gunn, Jr., 89, of Lavaca, Arkansas formerly of Hartford, Arkansas passed away Thursday, June 30, 2011 after a life well lived. He was born in Hartford, Arkansas on September 19, 1921, the son of a hard working coal miner, Burley D. Gunn, Sr. With Burley’s passing, he joins our Mother and Grandmother, his wife of 60 plus years, Stella Beatrice Gunn, in eternal life, with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Burley had many accomplishments throughout his life, and exemplified the virtues of the Eagle Scout he was, never failing to structure his life to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. Burley was a good example to all, and was loved by all who knew him.
Burley graduated from Hartford High School with the class of 1940. Married the one and only love of his life, Stella Payton, of Mansfield, on April 10, 1942. Burley and Stella lost their first child, but later had a son Burley D. Gunn, III and a daughter, Nancy D. Sullivan.
During World War II, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and was stationed in England, maintaining B24, B25 and B26 bombers, in support of the European War effort. After the war, they resided in California, but soon moved to Houston, Texas, for nine years, prior to returning to California, where he owned Gunn Appliances in San Pedro, California, before working the The Daily Breeze newspaper in Torrance, California (a Copley Publication). Burley retired when he was 55 years old, returned to Arkansas and built their home on Sebastian Lake near Hackett, Arkansas.
Burley enjoyed fishing, and often said, he would have never left Arkansas if he had been able to own a home on a lake, like they had, when they retired.
Burley was a very active member of the Lyons Club in Southern California and Arkansas.
Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, July 8, 2011 at McConnell Funeral Home Chapel in Greenwood with burial at Hartford Memorial Park. Viewing will be Thursday from 1 – 9 p.m. at the funeral home where the family will visit with friends from 6 – 8 p.m.
Burley is survived by a son, Burley D. Gunn, III and his wife, Dorothy of Lewisville, TX; a daughter, Nancy D. Sullivan and her husband, Don of Lavaca, AR; a brother, Roy Gunn of San Pedro, CA; six grandsons, three granddaughters and eighteen great grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Jeff and Alex Fosnaugh, Brian Gunn, Rob Markiewitz, Dean Barnes and Steven Held.
To sign an online guest book, please visit www.mcconnellfh.com.
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