Ludee Burns

Funeral services for Mrs. Ludee Burns will be held at First Presbyterian Church on Thursday, April 26, 2012 at 3:00 PM with Dr. Stuart Baskin officiating, there will be a visitation with the family prior to the service at 1:30 PM. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Mrs. Burns died on the morning of April 23 after a brief illness. Mrs. Burns was born in Harrison County to Myrtle and Alfred Smith. She attended school in New Diana and graduated from Longview High School and Kilgore Junior College. She married Robert L. (Bob) Burns in 1941 in Kilgore. After serving in WWII, they returned to Kilgore where Ludee worked at Pioneer Drug and K. Woolens while Bob was a teacher for Kilgore ISD. They moved to Tyler in 1947 when Bob was named principal of Marsh Elementary School. Ludee was a bookkeeper for Henry Bryant, CPA in the Fair Building and later for East Texas Typewriter Exchange while Bob served as a principal in the Tyler schools over the next 25 years. After she became a young widow in 1972, Ludee started her own business in Tyler, National Office Machines. Her business sold and serviced typewriters and office machines throughout East Texas for the next 20 years. Mrs. Burns was an active member of First Presbyterian Church for 65 years. She and Mr. Burns were among the original members who “laid the first brick” in 1948 with Dr. John Anderson at the current location of the church on Rusk Street. She was a member of the Women’s Circles 2 and 3 and was Co-Moderator of the Presbyterian Women in 1997 and served on several committees and in many capacities at the church over the years. She was a member of the Zonta International Club, the Business and Professional Women’s Club of Tyler, and was an active supporter and volunteer for the Women’s Crisis Center. She loved going to her family farm in Harrison County near Marshall, watching Dallas Cowboy football, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. Survivors include her two daughters and sons-in-law: Beverly and Bob Dillon of Tyler and Laney and Dennis Freeman of Dallas; her sister, Helen Clark of Tyler; her six grandchildren: Kristina Duke of Rowlett, Emily Nasits of New York City, Allison Freeman of Tyler, Elizabeth Dillinger of Atlanta, Amy Abbott of Houston, and Michelle Liebel of Houston; her 4 great-grandchildren: Reagan, Carson, Jackson, and Peyton; and several nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Mike Burns, Bill Cleneay, Bob Dillon, Jason Duke, Dennis Freeman, Christopher Howell, and Preston Smith. If desired, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 230 W. Rusk St., Tyler, Texas 75701, Hospice of East Texas Foundation, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, Texas 75701, Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital, 2222 Welborn St., Dallas, Texas 75219 or the charity of your choice.

Ludee Burns

August 3, 2012 - April 23, 2012