Manford N Burris Jr.

He was the Executive Director of the Crawford County Public Facilities Board, a member and Elder in the Alma Presbyterian Church, and was retired from the Army National Guard with the rank of Colonel. Manford, who graduated from Arkansas Tech University was very active in civic affairs; he was the Mayor of Alma for 14 years, was currently serving as an Alma City Councilman, was a board member of the Alma Boys & Girls Club, a board member of Stepping Stone School in Alma, member of the Alma Rotary Club, and had taught school in the Alma School system for 13 years. He was past president of the Crawford County Nutrition Board, had served on the Executive Board of the Alma Area Chamber of Commerce, and was a past board member of the Western Arkansas Planning and Development District.

Funeral service will be at 12:30pm Tuesday, March 15 in Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home Chapel, with interment to follow at Fort Smith National Cemetery, under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren.

He is survived by a daughter Page Phillips and her husband Jeff of Russellville, AR, a son Jay Burris and his wife Nancy of Van Buren, a sister Rita Ellis of Memphis, TN, a brother Gary Burris of West Covina, CA, 6 grandchildren; Chad Burris, Jacob Phillips, Alex Burris, Molly Grace Phillips, Evan Burris, and Harper Phillips, and 3 aunts; Lois Hubbard of Wichita, KS, Marguerite Fyler of Wichita, KS, and Kathleen Yoder of Hutchison, KS.

Pallbearers will be Gary Perry, Eddie Wakefield, Wes Kemp, Gene Lech, Randy Smith, John Hall, Dennis Gilstrap, and Ed Thicksten.

He may be viewed until the funeral hour.

The family will visit with friends from 6pm to 8pm Monday, March 14 at Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home, 4100 Alma Highway, Van Buren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alma Boys & Girls Club, P.O. Box 1689, Alma, AR 72921.