James 'Jim' Dennis Burnett

James (Jim) Dennis Burnett was born January 13, 1941 in Meade County Kentucky to Ralph
Maxwell Burnett and Lillian Eugenia Bolton Burnett. He passed from this world on Friday,
September 13, 2024 at the age of 83.
He is survived by his wife: Joyce “Toler” Burnett, daughter Cindy Darlene Finley (William),
stepson Mark Dowell, grandson Jeremy Talbert (Maria), granddaughter Casey (Jared)
Samples, step grandchildren Brandon McKinney (Cathy), Justin Dowell (Dylan), Jennifer Fain,
great grandchildren Maggie Talbert, Clark Vargas, Lena Vargas, Landry Dowell. Brothers Ralph
Maxwell Burnett (Margie), Dwayne Burnett (Jequita), Virginia Burnett and many nephews and
nieces.
James was preceded in death by his parents, brother Charles John Burnett, sisters Virginia
Carol Mayfield, Patti Gail Lawson., stepdaughter Donna Dowell and one great grandson.
In 1958 at the age of 17, Jim joined the United States Air Force serving for 20 years and 21
days in Aerospace Medicine. Earning the rank of Master Sergeant. His Basic Training started in
Texas at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio Texas and he retired in Wichita Falls, Texas.
He claimed to be a TEXAN AND SAID HE “Got here as soon as he could.”
During his time in the Air Force, he traveled the world with duty stations in Spain, Guam and
Korea. While on Guam, he joined South Sea Searches and spent many happy hours scuba
diving. In the United States, he served in Georgia, Iowa, California, Maine, Nebraska and
Texas. In Maine, he joined the DOW AFB Rod and gun club. Hunting in the sunshine and snow.
Jim married Adeline Harrelson in Savannah, Georgia and they had one daughter, Cindy. In
1983, he married Joyce (Toler) Dowell at the Chapel on the Bosque in Stephenville. They
successfully merged their families and had 40 happy years together.
After retiring from the Air Force James worked at General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin for
ten years. Upon his second retirement he and Joyce bought a small travel trailer and went all
over the US. Visiting family and friends along the way.
Jim and Joyce were members of the Bethel United Methodist Church in Weatherford for many
years Jim was very active in the church, serving as a Trustee and taking care of the church
building. Participating in the live Christmas pageant.
He was a good Christian and dearly loved his family.