Hotchkiss resident Kenneth "Whitie" Burns died Jan. 20, 2013, at Paonia Care Center after a five-year battle with Alzheimer's. He was 83.
A memorial service and barbecue will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, May 27, at Zack's Bar-B-Que Pavilion in Hotchkiss.
Mr. Burns was born April 6, 1929, in Ardmore, Okla., to John "Bud" and Biddie Burns. He grew up in the Tishamingo, Okla., area. In high school he played football and participated in FFA. After graduation he began working for ranches and showing cattle in Oklahoma, Oregon, California and Colorado. He traveled with the show cattle by railroad.
In 1950, Mr. Burns joined the U.S. Army and served in the Korean War until he was honorably discharged.
He married Dolores Wright; they later divorced. She survives. They lived and worked on the O'Neill Ranch in Big Piney and the Haycreek Ranch in Gillette, Wyo., before moving to Dillon. They moved Burns Herefords to Hotchkiss where he lived the remainder of his life. He produced the first Register of Merit sire in Colorado from the King Rupert bloodline.
Mr. Burns enjoyed high school and professional football, drinking iced tea and visiting with friends at Roberts Short Stop.
He belonged to the Colorado Cattlemen's Association, Colorado Hereford Association, Delta County Livestock Association, the American Legion and the Elks. He was a lifetime member of the American Hereford Association, an honorary Delta County Fair Board member and an honorary Hotchkiss FFA chapter member.
Mr. Burns is survived by two sons, Kenney Burns and his wife Teresa of Hotchkiss, and Karl Burns and his wife Joetta of Paonia; two daughters, Susan Miller and her husband Dave of Buena Vista, and Sandra Speer and her husband Nevil of Smiths Grove, Ky.; one brother, AJ Burns and his wife Janice of Adams, Ore.; a sister, Pat Posey of Clare-more, Okla.; six grandchildren, Klayton Burns and his wife Sonya of Tifton, Ga., Kacie Burns of Paonia, Danny Shuss of Cañon City, Brandi Miller of Colorado Springs, Codi Miller of Buena Vista, and Lydia Speer of Smiths Grove, Ky.; and four great-grandchildren of Tifton, Ga.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Hiram Burns; and four sisters, Mary Jane Burns, Arlene Haugan, Linda Burns and Doris Selfridge.
Contributions may be made in Whitie Burns' name to the Clem Audin Scholarship Fund, Hotchkiss Elks BPOE #1807, P.O. Box 96, Hotchkiss, CO 81419.
Arrangements are being handled by Taylor Funeral Service and Crematory.
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