Joe Gay Burns
Joe Gay Burns, 98, of Auburn went home to be with the Lord on July 26, 2015.
He was born November 2, 1916, in Pittsview, Alabama and was preceded in death by his parents, Edward R. Burns and Ethyl Stitt Burns, his wife, Bess Faris Burns, four brothers, one sister, and one grandchild, Lisa Lynn Burns.
He is survived by four children and their spouses: Haldon C. Burns (Nancy Stanton) of Brighton, CO, Joe G. Burns, Jr. (Christine Rather Burns) of College Station, TX; Amy Burns Bryant (Joseph E. Bryant) of Chantilly, VA; and Rebecca Burns Ressler (David M. Ressler) of Houston, TX; 12 grandchildren, Virginia Kirby, Jerry Rylands, Terresa Ulibarri, Emily Bryant, Kathryn Ressler English, James Bryant, Sarah Ressler, Victoria Burns, Leigh Ann Ressler, Joseph Burns, Jonathan Bryant, and Harrison Burns; and 5 great-grandchildren.
Joe Burns was devoted to God, his family, and Auburn University. He was valedictorian of Pittsview School, graduated with a B.S. in Agriculture from Auburn University in 1947 and with a M.S. in Forestry from Duke University in 1949. He served in World War II as an officer in the U. S. Army Air Corps from 1941 to 1946. He married Bessie Lynn Faris in 1950. They moved to Auburn, Alabama in 1970 where Mr. Burns was a member of the Auburn United Methodist Church and the Auburn Lions Club. His favorite pastimes were taking up students’ tickets at Jordan-Hare Stadium, and then watching his beloved Auburn Tigers. He had a 50 year career as a forester, working for the U.S. Forest Service, Alabama Forestry Commission, Scott Paper Company, The University of Kentucky School of Forestry, and as a consulting forester.
A graveside memorial service will be held at Auburn Memorial Park Cemetery at 2 pm on Monday, August 10, officiated by Rev. Joe G. Burns, Jr.
The Joe Burns family would like to express appreciation to the Hospice Advantage EAMC of Alabama and to Mr. Burns’ caregivers.
In lieu of flowers, the family request donations to Hospice Advantage EAMC (665 Opelika Rd., Suite 200, Auburn, AL 36830), the Salvation Army, or the Auburn United Methodist Church.
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home & Crematory is directing.
www.jeffcoattrant.com
William “Bob”
Carroll
William “Bob” Carroll, age 58, of Trussville, passed away August 4, 2015. He was of the Baptist Faith and an avid Auburn fan. Bob graduated from UAB and worked at Trinity Medical Center for 28 years as a computer systems analyst in the Cardiac Unit. A memorial service will be held on August 7 at 2 p.m. at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home. Reverend Jon Earl will officiate. Visitation will be from 1-2 p.m. Friday. He is survived by his sister Donna Williamson and her husband Jerry, a nephew whom he loved like a son Daniel C. Morgan and his wife Ellen, great nephews William, whom he was named after, his uncle Bob, and Benjamin Morgan, other friends, coworkers and attendants. Jefferson Memorial Trussville directing.
Eloise
Gillenwaters Johns
Eloise Gillenwaters Johns was born in Langdale, Alabama, November 4, 1934, to parents John and Mary Gillenwaters. Eloise joined her Lord in Heaven Wednesday night July 29, 2015 after a brief stay at Bethany House in Auburn, Alabama.
Eloise met her beloved husband George Johns in 1954 while he was serving in the U.S. Army at Ft. Benning, Georgia, and attending Auburn University. The two quickly fell in love and were blessed with 61 years of marriage, four children, nine grandchildren, and twelve great grandchildren. Eloise served as a loving wife and homemaker throughout her life. Her children are quick to proclaim her the greatest mother with whom any child has ever been blessed. After spending 18 years in Houston, Texas, and following George’s retirement from Tenneco Oil Co., they returned to Alabama and have resided in Auburn since 1990. George and Eloise have been members of Lakeview Baptist Church in Auburn since 1993 where Eloise has cheerfully served in the choir and church food pantry since 1995.
During fall Saturdays, Eloise and George enjoyed tailgating before Auburn Football home games and loved traveling to away games to support their Auburn Tigers with her beloved family and friends. She has always been a kind and loving soul that will be missed by all those that were blessed to have known her. Her family finds comfort in the knowledge that she is now at home with the Lord and singing with the Angels in Heaven.
Mrs. Johns is survived by her husband, George M. Johns; sons, Tim Johns (wife Brenda) of Willis, Texas, Randy Johns (wife Sandra) of Auburn, Alabama, Steve Johns (wife Kim) of The Woodlands, Texas; daughter, Joy Mullins of Auburn; nine grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; sister, Marianne Elliott (husband Bobby) of Valley, Alabama, and brother, W. L. Gillenwaters (wife Peggy) of Valley, Alabama. She is preceded in death by her parents, John W. Gillenwaters and Mary Breedlove Gillenwaters of Langdale, Alabama; brother, Frank Gillenwaters of Stark Florida; beloved son-in-law, Scooter (Edward) Mullins of Auburn, Alabama; and great-grandson, Hudson McCay also of Auburn, Alabama.
Funeral service was held at 2 p.m. CST Saturday, August 1 at Jeffcoat-Trant Chapel with interment following at Town Creek Cemetery. Visitation was Friday, July 31, from 6-8 p.m. at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home. Reverend John Dale Rector officiated.
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home & Crematory directed.
www.jeffcoattrant.com