Michael W. Burleson

Michael W. Burleson On Dec. 12, 2016, our family suffered tremendous loss. Michael W. Burleson, 72, of Ragtown, Texas rode away while surrounded by close family at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. A remembrance of his life will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16th, at Bright-Holland Funeral Home with Rev. Bob Stith officiating. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 – 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Michael was born May 28, 1944, in Paris and was the son of Jerrel L. Burleson and Gladys Parson Burleson. He graduated from Chicota High School in 1962. He followed his father in becoming a farmer and rancher which was recognized in the Cattleman’s Magazine and the Rangeland Weed and Brush Management Newsletter for the Southwest, both in the Spring of 1991, with an article on custom grazing stocker cattle on leased land. At one time he had up to 9,000 stocker calves in his custody and control for sellers across Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. He was a partner in the 1500 acre Burly Hunts shooting resort located in Lamar County, and he owned & operated Clearwater Cattle Company Ranch also in Lamar County. He married Vicky Burgin on May 28, 1999, in Chicota, Texas. They shared seventeen years of peaceful life at their home in Ragtown. They enjoyed the cows, trees, land, birds and gardening. They also loved to go to the casino. Michael’s favorite saying to Vicky was, “Don’t squat with your spurs on” and “Don’t dig that hole too deep”. He was preceded in death by his parents, his son, Brad Burleson, brothers-in-law, Danny Clark and Randy Burgin, a nephew, Cris Clark, and his beloved horse, Bebo De. Survivors include his wife, Vicky, children, Michelle Burleson of Garretts Bluff and Amanda Burgin of Arthur City, a sister, Bonnie Clark of Mesquite, a granddaughter, Jacy Rader of Dallas, several nieces & nephews including Dan Clark & wife Patricia of Katy, his mother-in-law Maxine Burgin of Arthur City, a brother-in-law, Steve Burgin & wife Ann of Paris, a sister-in-law, Anita Ratliff of Paris along with a large herd of friends. As an expression of sympathy, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Michael’s charity in memory of his son Brad – Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch, P.O. Box 1890, Amarillo, TX 79174-0001 or www.calfarley.org/waystogive Casket bearers will be: Jack Cook, Carl Davis, Jeremy Hamil, Billy Robinson, Chad Robinson and Chad Ward. Honorary bearers will be: Eldon Foster, Dan Clark and Steve Burgin.