Robert W. "Butch" Burns

Robert W. ‘Butch' Burns, 61, of Stephenville, died Sunday, August 8, 2010 in Fort Worth. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Wednesday, at First Baptist Church in Stephenville with Derrel Thompson officiating. Masonic Graveside Rites will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday at Mixon Cemetery in Mixon Texas. Visitation will be 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Tuesday evening at Stephenville Funeral Home. Robert was born August 21, 1948 in Jacksonville, Texas to the late Floyd Evan and Lou Ella Dry Burns. He married Jeanne Siros, December 9, 1967 in Mixon. Robert graduated from Troup High School, attended Gulf Coast Business College, University of Houston, received a certification in Community Relations from the Center of Corporate Community Relations at Boston College, and received his BS degree from Tarleton State University. Robert served on several Boards and Commissions, serving as a two term council member with the City of Stephenville; past vice president and president of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce; past president and co-chair of the legislative committee with the Stephenville Chamber of Commerce; board member of the Tarleton State University Texan club, receiving the TSU President's All Purple Award in April 2010; board member of the Tarleton State University President's Advisory Board; serving as Vice Chairman of the Golf Tournament Committee for the Erath County United Way Board; he served as finance director for the North and East Texas Press Association Board of Directors; served fifteen years on the West Texas Press Association Board of Directors; Legislative Committee Advisor for the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce; served as chairman of the Business Advisory Board with the Tarleton State University College of Business; past board member of the Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce; and was a member of the Texas Local Council Core Team. Robert spent 39 years with Embarq, from construction inspector beginning in 1970 in Palestine, Tyler, Troup, and Overton; to district manager positions in Bridgeport and Palestine; to serving in Stephenville as community relations and public affairs manager from 1989 to 2010. Robert served in the Infantry in the U. S. Army in 1968. He is survived by his wife, Jeanne; daughter, Shelley Porter of Stephenville; son, Robbie Burns of Stephenville; granddaughter, Jessica Porter; grandsons, Jeffery Porter and Justin Porter; and a sister, Cynthia Hall of Bullard. Beside his parents, he was also preceded in death by two brothers, Leonard and Johnny; and by a sister, Patricia. Family wishes expressions of sympathy be made in the form of donations to the American Heart Association.