Raymond Theodore Burns

Raymond Theodore Burns was born on April 19, 1926, in McIntosh County Oklahoma in the Artussee community west of Eufaula. he died on January 28, 2022, at the age of 95 years, 9 months and 9 days. He was born to Kodie Waymon Burns, also known as Ray Burns, and Virgie Mae (Lewellen) Burns. He was raised on the farm and lived most of his life in the Artussee community. He married his childhood sweetheart, Lois Evelyn Salters, on November 4, 1943, and they were married for 77 years until her death on September 20, 2021. He was inducted into the U.S. Navy on March 15, 1945, and served in San Diego, California. He was honorably discharged on May 20, 1946. He and Lois and their son Bill, moved back to Eufaula where J.T. was born and later moved to McAlester where Terry and Sharon were born. He worked as a butcher and later as a wholesale grocery salesman until they all moved to Indianola where they owned and operated a small grocery store and gas station. While there, he served as the town Mayor and Fire Chief. In July 1960, the family moved back to Eufaula where he was employed as a wholesale grocery salesman with the Palmer-Swadley Wholesale. Their son Terry accidentally drowned in Lake Eufaula on June 29, 1964, an incident they never fully recovered from. After many years as a salesman, they owned and operated Eufaula Flower Shoppe and were very successful in that business. He then opened the Bil-Dil shops in Eufaula where they sold furniture, appliances and antiques until their retirement to their active farm in the Artussee Community where he raised cattle. In November 1970, he achieved what he considered to be one of his greatest accomplishments when he was elected as the Eufaula 1st Assembly of God Secretary and Treasurer, a position he held for 38 years. During that time, he oversaw the construction of a new church that was built at its current location west of Eufaula. He is survived by his sons, Bill and wife Paula, J.T. and wife Beth, his daughter Sharon Edgar and husband Donald, 8 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and 14 great-great grandchildren - all of whom he loved and cherished. He is also survived by his sisters Gwen Grubbs of Stigler, Oklahoma, and Fern Patterson of Sapula, Oklahoma, many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, son Terry, his beloved wife, Lois, sister, Lois Long, brothers-in-law Gus Doyle, Ted Patterson, Burl Grubbs and Russell Long.