Nov. 24, 1915-Dec. 5, 2017
Visitation: 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12, First Presbyterian Church. Memorial service: 7 p.m., church. Disposition: Cremation. Final burial and service: At Woodlake Presbyterian Church, Woodlake, California, at a later date.
John Warren Burris, 102, died Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, at his daughter’s home in Dyersburg, Tennessee. He was born Wednesday Nov. 24, 1915, in Cedar County, the son of the late William Hiram Burris and the late Lillie Maude Stephens Burris.
As a teenager, John left home to find work during the Great Depression, making his way to California where he worked as a farm laborer, ranch hand, and for many years in the lumber industry in northern California. While living in San Diego, he was working at Consolidated Aircraft when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Jan. 2, 1942, John enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving over three years in the Pacific, and was stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, when the World War II ended. Returning to California, he owned various businesses, worked for Ventura County Department of Weights and Measures for several years, and participated in Poinsettia Masonic Lodge. He and Carolyn Hope Ainley were married in Woodlake, California, April 20, 1957. In March 1961, he moved his family to Stockton, where he operated a cattle ranch. Following the family’s return to Woodlake, California in June 1973, he built the family home, and participated in Visalia Toastmasters Club, Tulare County Genealogical Society and Woodlake Presbyterian Church. In March 2004, John and Hope moved to Alturas, California where Hope died Jan. 25, 2012. John moved to Dyersburg in August 2014.
Survivors include two daughters, Melodee Chapman and husband Willis of Dyersburg, Tennessee, and Carolyn Hughes and husband John of Alturas, California; seven grandchildren, Nathan Chapman and fiance Erin Carrillo, Jacob Hughes and girlfriend Arien Church, Bethany Mayo and husband Josh, Janel Godfrey and husband Tanner, Ben Chapman and wife Laura, John Hughes Jr. and wife Camie and Hannah Ashworth and husband Jake; six great-grandchildren, Ezra Wallis Mayo, Jenna Elizabeth Godfrey, Silas Andrew Mayo, Jarrett Elijah Godfrey, Evelyn Hope Chapman and Ainley Ann Mayo; two brothers-in-law, Dr. Richard Ainley of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Frank Ainley of Woodlake, California; a cousin, Gerald Stephens of Bolivar; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Hope; a brother, William Burris; and five sisters, Maude Heany, Cora Lee Collins, Mildred Swanson, Edith Monchamp and Marjorie Lowry.
The family requests memorials be directed to Community Bible Study, 790 Stout Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80921-3802.
Cremation arrangements entrusted to Curry Funeral Home. Online condolences can be made at www.curryfuneral.com.
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