Dorris Burleson

August 13, 1938 - December 19, 2018

Mrs. Dorris Houston Burleson, 80, passed away Tuesday, December 19, 2018 at the Baldwyn Nursing Facility.  She was born August 13, 1938, in Lee County, the daughter of James Ruben Houston and Ernye Christine Guin Houston.  Dorris was a 1956 graduate of Tupelo High School.  She married James Barto Burleson on November 25, 1959. They had one child, Cynthia Ann Burleson McCully.  However, she had four stepsons, Jim, David, Marvin & Jackie and one stepdaughter, Gloria.  She worked for over 30 years as an upholstery seamstress for Krueger International, retiring in 2005.  A longtime member of East Heights Baptist Church, Dorris served several years as a nursery and preschool teacher and choir member.  She dearly loved her Sunday School Class, The Son Servers, along with her teachers Jennie Little and Kathryn Parham who were lifelong friends.  She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, coloring, keeping up with the TV news, working puzzles, reading her Bible, and watching her Jack Van Impe tapes.  Dorris was a great cook who will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Services will be 2 PM Saturday December 22, 2018 at the East Heights Baptist Church with Dr. Tim Brown and Dr. Keith Cochran officiating.  Burial will follow in Lee Memorial Park.  Visitation will be Saturday from 11 AM to service time.  Lee Memorial Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.

Dorris leaves behind her daughter, Cynthia Ann McCully (Terry) of Saltillo; her sister, Barbara Weaver (Felix) of Virginia; her brother, Billy F. Francis of Baldwyn; one grandson, Kevin McCully of Saltillo; 2 granddaughters in love, Lisa and Betsy McCully of Louisiana; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband James Barto Burleson; her father, PFC James Ruben Houston; and her mother, Christine Houston Francis; her step-father, Luther Franklin Francis; a very special uncle, Roy E. Houston, Sr.; her sister-in-law, Zera Mae Johnson; brothers-in-law, Mitchell Burleson, Jimmy Butler and her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Ras Guin and Mr. and Mrs. Jodie Houston.

Pallbearers will be Kevin McCully, Alan Johnson, David Parker, Gordon Ward, Hoyt Curbow, and Taylor Thomas.  Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Lee Greer, Dr. Charles King, Dr. James L. White, Dr. Richard Caron, Dr. Dax Eckard, Dr. Kevin Abel, Dr. Ray Arriola, & Louise Cristo, her nurse practitioner at the NMMC –Baldwyn Nursing Facility.

Dorris loved all her caregivers and friends from the Baldwyn Nursing Facility.   The family greatly appreciates the sacrifices made daily by all staff to provide the very best quality of life to the residents.  It would be impossible to list every single person by name, however, Dorris was especially close to Pam Alexander, RN, Mallory Beard, LPN, Lexie Hunt, RN, Amber McMahon RN, Stephanie Michael LPN, Brittany Prince, CNA, Kayla Shepherd, CNA, Eunice Stanley, CNA, Zoltan Stefko, RN, and Mary Jo Taylor, RN, who spent extra time with her.  Dorris' very special niece, Enita Parker, has been there for the family and has been a tremendous means of support during her final days.

Memorials may be made to Baldwyn Nursing Facility Resident Care Fund or East Heights Baptist Church Building Fund.