Obituaries

Mary Burton

Photo of Mary  Burton
Mary Burton joined her heavenly father on March 18, 2016 at the age of 97 years. She was born March 9, 1919 in Faulkner County, Arkansas to Bert Milam and Faleta Ellzey Tilley. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, husband of 66 years, William J. (Bill) Burton, sister Opal Tilley, brothers Jack, Bert and Rudolph. Survived by son and daughter-in-law Scot and Jana Burton of Fayetteville, grandchildren Ally of Los Angeles, Calif. and Andrew Burton of Fayetteville, sister-in-law Marge Tilley of Stanwood, Wash., sister-in-law Evelyn Tilley of San Antonio, Texas, sister-in-law Ruby Tilley of Pensacola, Florida, and a number of nieces, nephews and cousins. Mary attended Conway Public Schools and the University of Central Arkansas (formerly Arkansas State Teachers College). She married William (Bill) Burton on October 17, 1942. During her husband's four years in the U.S. Army in WWII, Mary worked in a chemistry lab making munitions for the U.S. armed forces. After the war, they moved to Houston, Texas, where they resided for 38 years. In Houston, they were charter members of the Bellaire United Methodist Church, where Mary spent many years teaching in Sunday school and the church-sponsored preschool level School for Little Children. After her husband's retirement from the Houston Chronicle, they moved to Conway, Arkansas where they were members of First United Methodist Church and resided until 1999. At that time, they moved to Springdale to be near their son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren in Fayetteville. She has been a member of Central United Methodist Church since 1999 where she was a member of the Asbury Sunday School class. Mary loved riding her bicycle, walking for exercise and was an excellent seamstress and cook. She also was an avid reader, enjoyed playing cards and other games, doing crosswords and puzzles, and her many wonderful friends and family. Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 20th from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. at Nelson-Berna Funeral Home in Fayetteville. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Monday, March 21st in the chapel of Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville. Graveside services will be held 1 p.m., Tuesday, March 22nd at Spring Hill Cemetery near Conway, Ark. Memorial contributions may be made to Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville for their music program. To sign the online guest book please visit www.nelsonberna.com.

Published March 19, 2016

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