Robert "Bobby" Maurice Burnam Jr.

Robert Maurice Burnam, Jr., known to everyone at Bobby, passed away at his home in the early morning hours on Sunday, February 11, 2024, at the age of 93.

Born to Robert Maurice (R.M.) Burnam and Mary Ann Davidson Burnam in Dallas, Texas on September 26, 1930, Bobby spent his entire life in Marble Falls, Texas. Being a 5th generation Texan, he eventually made his home on the Burnam Ranch, which was established in 1852 by his great grandfather, Robert Thompson Burnam.

Bobby graduated from Marble Falls High School and attended Tarleton College. He became a Marine when the Korean War started and was stationed in California. After serving his time in the Marine Corp, he came back to Texas and worked for his father hauling cattle and lambs to the Fort Worth and San Antonio Stockyards. He eventually worked for his dad in the R.M. Burnam Feed Store, established by his dad in 1945 in Marble Falls. In the early 1970’s, Bobby started Burnam Pest Control. He continued to work with his father and brother, Sam, in the feed and exterminating business until the store sold.

Bobby’s commitment to his community was evident in many ways. He was a director of the Home State Bank, and served on the Marble Falls School Board for several years. He was a life-long Mason, a member of the Texas Farm Bureau and the Texas Southwest Cattle Raisers Association and also a life-long member of the Methodist Church.

He loved to rodeo and rope calves with his favorite horse, Sandy, that he brought home with him from California. This eventually led to the establishment of the Marble Falls Rodeo Association with his rodeo friends Jack Rogers and Charlie Taylor.

Bobby and his brother Sam were instrumental in the development of the Timber Ridge Subdivision during the 1980’s. During the 1980’s, Bobby and his partners ranched in South Texas on the Charco Escondito Ranch in Encinal, Texas, as well as maintaining a full time ranching operation with his brother in Marble Falls on their family ranch. It is very important to note that no ranching operation could have been complete without Bobby having at least 2 or 3 ranch dogs ready to work herding the cows, finding hogs, coyotes, rattlesnakes or any other critters. All they needed to hear was Bobby’s voice telling them to “get ‘em”! The cows also responded when they heard Bobby’s voice calling them because that “cattle call” meant that it was “feed time on the ranch”.

It wasn’t only ranch work that gave Bobby such pleasure. He had a life-long love of fishing on the Pedernales and Colorado Rivers with his wife Bertie and his cousin R.D. Burnam, as well as hunting deer and quail in South Texas. Some of his best memories were made with his family and friends, telling tall tales, laughing and eating good food that could only exist at the South Texas deer camp.

In March, 2006, Susan Combs, Texas Commissioner of Agriculture, conducted the Family Land Ranching and Heritage ceremony in Austin. It was Bobby’s and Sam’s honor to receive a certificate and award, given to the Burnam family, for ranching the same land, by the same family for 150 consecutive years.

Bobby was preceded in death by his parents, R.M. and Mary Burnam, son in law Glenn Douglas, nephew Hudson Johnson and step son, Curtis Sayers.

He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Bertie Collier Burnam, daughters Jennifer Tilton (Bill), Bridgette Burnam, Janet Douglas, and step daughter Shelia Bownds (Al), 5 grandchildren, Tinlee Via (Sterling), Mary Catherine Kreuger, Hunter McEntire, Robert Douglas and Davidson Douglas (Macey), 2 step grandchildren, Vynn Via and Emerson Glenn Douglass, 4 step great grandchildren, his sister, Alice Ruth Johnson (Ross) and his brother, Sam Burnam (Trina), along with numerous nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service to honor Bobby’s life will be held at Walnut Methodist Church, 1153 FM 3347, Round Mountain, Texas 78663, on Monday, March 4, 2024, at 10:00 AM.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Walnut Methodist Church, PO Box 123, Round Mountain, TX 78663 or Living Love Animal Rescue and Sanctuary, PO Box 1266, Marble Falls, TX 78654.

Bobby’s life centered around his love for his family, and his love of the land that he ranched. His main goal as a rancher was to leave the land that he inherited in better condition than he found it. That goal was accomplished through his dedication to hard work, perseverance, and his love of all that God entrusted to him.

Two old sayings Bobby loved: “Always welcomed at the ranch: friends, a good rain and a baby calf”. And “Get a good dog boys, he’ll be your best friend”.