Lavell "Tex" Burns

Lavell “Tex” was born on August 18, 1934 in the farming community of Monette, Arkansas to the proud parents Lonie and Gertha Burns.  He passed away on Monday, June 4, 2018, in Anaheim, California of heart failure.
            On July 11, 1969, at a Hay Ride in Irvine, California, he met the love of his life, Gracie Lee Wylie.  Subsequently, they were married in a small church in Myrtle, Missouri on July 18, 1971.  They remained married for almost 47 years.  They both felt their marriage was made in Heaven and loved each other unconditionally.
            Tex loved country music and John Wayne.  He also loved Baseball (the Angels and the St. Louis Cardinals) most but really all sports.  He dearly loved gardening and was always looking forward to planting, nurturing and harvesting his crops.  He loved camping and the great outdoors.  He and Gracie belonged to two camping groups, the Klassy Campers (1971-1986) and the Rolling Wheels (1988-1996) and the family camped for the weekend once a month at different locations.
            He was an exceptional husband and father.  Family always came first with Tex.  He dearly loved his four sons: Robin L. Burns, James L. Burns, Michael A. Burns, and Jeffrey S. Burns.  Tex was a “hands-on” father.  As a parent, he was very involved in his boys’ lives.  He willingly gave his time to their interests.  At one time, he and Gracie served as officers in four different Parent Booster Groups (Basketball, Future Farmers of America, Wrestling, and Marching Band)---going to all their games/activities (including marching in numerous parades/competitions along with the students) and organized/volunteered all fundraisers for the various groups.
He accomplished all of this while working as a Truck Driver for Kraft Foods in Buena Park.  He retired in 1981 after 25 years of service.  Tex started working at the age of 15 when he and his family moved to Orange County in 1949.  He was given that nickname by a fellow student when he showed up to register for Garden Grove High School with a cowboy hat on his head, a western style shirt,  Leviis, and cowboy boots on his feet.  His work career included:  making soles for tennis shoes (Vans), Shakeys Pizza, working as a Cab Driver in Anaheim, a gopher for the Townhall Party TV Show on Saturday nights with Cliffy Stone, and as a candy delivery driver at Disneyland.
Tex is survived by his wife, four sons, twelve grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, his Mother-in-Law, Mattie L. Wylie, & his Sister-in-Law, Irvalene M. Moni.

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