J. Barton Burson
J. Barton Burson, 84, Mt. Vernon, passed away Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, at the Lawrence County Manor residential care facility in Mt. Vernon. He was born Dec. 8, 1927, in Avilla, MO to John O. and Nellie Burson. He was preceded in death by wife Mary Alice in 1978, and wife Ruth in 1998. He was also preceded in death by sisters Bernice Shelton and Mary Sue Dickerson and bother John Burson.
J.B. is survived by Virginia Payne, former wife and mother of his children, and by former wife Rozell Porter. He is also survived by sister Ruth Sherrel, Marianna, Fla., and brother Gerye Burson, Blue Springs, MO; and by children, Max Burson, Wichita, Kan., Barton Burson, Los Alamos, N.M., Ryan Burson, Washington DC., Mary Jensen, Overland Park, Kan., and Ken Burson, Jefferson City; 13 grandchildren; and six great grandchildren.
Except for his time serving in the United States Navy from 1945 to 1947, and attending college at Missouri State University and Drury University in Springfield, he lived and worked in Mt. Vernon, MO all his life.
He began his career at First National Bank in 1948, rising to the office of president of the bank in 1972. He retired from the bank in 1992.
Over the years, J.B. was involved with a number of civic organizations, including the American Legion and the Lions Club. He served for a time as city treasurer and served on the Mt. Vernon City Council in the late 1990s. He was an active member on the boards of the IOOF Cemetery and the Mt. Vernon High School Alumni Scholarship Foundation and a longtime member of the Mt. Vernon Golf Association.
In recent years, J.B. devoted a lot of his time renovating and remodeling many homes in Mt. Vernon. He enjoyed playing golf, reading, wood-working, planting trees, feeding the birds and squirrels and spending time with family and friends.
Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 12, at the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home, Mt. Vernon. Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday in the funeral home, with the Rev. Jack Daniel officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Barry=Lawrence Regional Library and the Mt. Vernon High School Class of '45 Scholarship Fund.
Online condolences may be shared at http://www.fossettmosher-funeralhome.com/.
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