The Woodward News

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  • VERN BURGESS

    VERN BURGESS
September 1, 2010

VERN BURGESS

Woodward News

Woodward, Okla. — Vern Burgess, 75 year old Woodward resident, died Sunday, August 29, 2010 at his home in Woodward. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 4, 2010 at the Billings Funeral Home Chapel with the Reverend Bill Tindell officiating. Burial will follow in the Mt. Olive Cemetery.  The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday, September 3, 2010 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.



Vern L. Burgess "Pappy" was born July 13, 1935 on the farm seven miles southwest of Ft. Supply, Oklahoma. He was the sixth child of Dallas and Lavern (Harvey) Burgess. He was raised in Ft. Supply, and attended Ft. Supply schools, where he graduated in 1956. He attended church at Mount Olive Methodist Church for which he was baptized as a small child. On January 29, 1965 he was united in marriage to Clara America Woods. They were married at the Ft. Supply Baptist Church. They resided in Ft. Supply until 1967 when they moved to Buffalo where he was employed by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. After high school he worked on a dairy farm for Long Brothers, afterwards he drove a school bus forthe school district of Ft. Supply for six years, then he worked at Western State as a cook for six years before transferring to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Upon retiring in 1988 they moved to Woodward, where he resided until his death.



Pappy’s hobbies included spending time with his kids, grandkids, great-grandkids and great-great-grandkids. He loved to watch them play ball and ride motorcycles. He loved just hanging out with family.



Vern is survived by one daughter, Norma L. Miller of Woodward; four grandchildren, Ronny Pratt and wife Cindy of Medford; Cindy Shurtz and husband Wayne of Woodward; Gary Miller and wife Deborah of Pryor; Joe Miller and wife Leah Kay of Fairview; six great-grandsons, Jesse Pratt of Ada; Cody Pratt of Medford; Cole Pratt of Medford; Ronny Shurtz of Woodward; James Shurtz and wife Nicole of Mustang; John Shurtz and wife Tamara of Woodward; four great-great-grandchildren, Layne Shurtz of Woodward; Mathew Pratt Phelps of Texas; Brody Shurtz of Mustang; Payten Pratt of Ada; and one great-great-granddaughter coming in January; three brothers, Carl Burgess and wife Virginia of Chicago, Illinois; Betty Burgess (widow of Albert Burgess) of Ft. Supply; George Burgess and wife Thelma of Owasso; J.D. Burgess and wife Aldeen of Ft. Supply; one sister, Vera Pierce and husband Bill of Texas; numerous special nieces, special nephews, and many friends.



He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother Albert Burgess and his beloved wife and best friend, Clara in 2005.



Memorial contributions may be made to the Mt. Olive Cemetery with the funeral home accepting the contributions.



Remembrances may be shared online at www.billingsfuneralhomewoodward.com

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