Roy Everett Burton, Jr. | Obituaries



Roy Everett Burton, Jr. nicknamed Buzz was born July 1, 1941, to Roy and Viola (Moss) Burton at St Ignatius at the old white Holy Family Hospital that stood where the Taulman Park is currently located.

He was raised on a farm/ranch at the base of the Mission where he milked cows, worked in his dad’s sawmill, hunted, fished and rode his horse Babe a lot. He attended all 12 years of grade/high school and graduated in 1959. He attended Kinman Business College for one year taking training in office management skills.

He joined the US Army in 1961 and attended their Army Adjunct General School where he completed as the top student of 84 students. He served on the General Staff of the 1st Infantry Division on the Chief of Staff of Major General Ruggles and then went to Heidelberg, Germany where the United States Army Command Headquarters (USEUR) is located. He served on a crypto top secret nuclear weapons control center which controlled all the nuclear warheads co located with NATO nations in the Europe and Mediterranean Theatre.

Roy had three wishes when he graduated from high school and he accomplished all three, which were: visit the castles in Europe, live with Eskimos and obtain a degree.

After the military he attended U of M and obtained a bachelor’s degree and later went on to MSU and obtained a master’s degree in Education.

In 1988, thanks to Dr. Joe McDonald, he experienced what he considered to be the greatest event in his life – a cursillo at St. Ignatius. He was forever grateful to Sister Joan for her enlightenment that blessed his future life. He lovingly called her Sister Grace. Her presentation was on the Grace of Christ.

He was preceded in death by his parents and four sisters: Ferol Burton, Ida (Bill) Howell, Sheila Collins and Judy Burton and one brother, Ronald James Burton as well as two brothers in laws: Elroy Wolf & Sandy Collins.

He is survived by two sisters: Bernice (Mike) Fugere (Wasilla, AK) and Dianne Wolf (Corvalis), one adopted nephew brother David Burton (Dayton), brother in law Bill Howell (Marlene) and daughter Lynn (Kent) Fullerton ( Moiese) as well as numerous nieces & nephews.

A rosary was held Friday at Foster Funeral chapel with mass being celebrated on Saturday June 25, 2022. Interment followed in the St. Ignatius Catholic Cemetery.