By Staff
March 29, 2009
Funeral for Donald E. Burleson, 88, of Russell-ville was Tuesday, Mar. 31, at 3:30 p.m. at Spry Memorial Chapel in Russellville with Bro. Clint Busler officiating.
Burial was in Hartselle City Cemetery with Bro. Gene Britton officiating and Spry Funeral Home directing.
Mr. Burleson died Sunday, March 29, 2009. He was born on September 25, 1920, in Morgan County to John James and Fannie Belle Curry Burleson. He served during WWII in the Merchant Marines and was employed by Southern Airways immediately following the war as an aircraft mechanic. From the 1950’s he was in the automobile business in the Russellville and Shoals area until his retirement. He was a charter member of the Muscle Shoals Shrine Club and enjoyed years of helping crippled and burned children through the Shrine charities and hospitals. He was a lover of horses and raised Tennessee Walkers and Racking horses most of his life. He is preceded in death by his parents; an infant daughter, Sarah Amanda Burleson; a son, Anthony Burleson; two brothers, Hulbert “Red” Burleson and Dubert Burleson; a sister, Chris Cooper; and a son-in-law, R.C. King.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Margaret Lee Collum Burleson; a sister, Jeanne Francis Burleson of Hartselle; three daughters, Donna King of Russellville, Carole Britton and husband Gene of Bradenton, Fla. and Andrea Palmer and husband Jerry of Tuscumbia; a son, Monte Burleson of Crystal River, Fla.; a grandson, Aaron Burleson and wife Cessna of Muscle Shoals; 10 grandchildren, Heather Clowers and husband Jason, Holly Watkins and husband Lee, Julie Hulsey and husband Jason, Jennifer Mitchell and husband Kevin, Bonnie Britton, Adam Britton, Jamie Britton, Zeke Britton, Laura Howell and husband John Michael and Daniel Burleson; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Monte Burleson, Aaron Burleson, Adam Britton, Daniel Britton, Zeke Britton and great-nephew Jason Lacks. Honorary pallbearers were nephews Mark Tanner, Larry Minter, Grad Tanner and close friends Donnie Epperson, Grady Liles, Howard Grant, Curtis Grissom and Lanny Yancey.
The family extends special thanks to the caring staff of Russellville Health Care and special caregiver Faye Baker.
To sign the register book and offer private condolences to the family, go to www.sprymemorialchapel.com.