Dorothy Jane (Richardson) Burns

Dorothy Jane Richardson Burns, 105, a resident of Las Vegas and Boulder City, Nevada, since 1985, passed away on November 1, 2023, in Henderson, Nevada. Dorothy was born on December 7, 1917, to John Herbert and Emma Charlotte (Miller) Richardson in Queens, New York City, New York. She graduated from Valley Stream Central High School in Nassau County, New York, and went on to work at the Auburn Correctional Facility as a prison clerk for 16 years while living in Throop, New York (28 years).

She married Russell Burns in 1941, having met him at a dance whereupon at first sight he pronounced that he was going to marry her someday. Dorothy was a past Matron of the Masonic Order of the Eastern Star (Salem Town Chapter #58), as well as a member of the Order of the Amaranth and the Cayuga County Court Clerks Association. Being the wife and mother of military Veterans (her husband and all three sons), she was a very proud, supportive, and patriotic American. She absolutely loved animals and would light up with excitement at the sight or mention of any and all. Dorothy was always very philanthropic to military, community, children, and animal causes.

An avid sports fan she was. She thoroughly enjoyed baseball, football, and most recently took to hockey. She absolutely loved our Vegas Golden Knights! And she was fearless: in her eighties, she did a NASCAR ride-along at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, reaching speeds in excess of 160 mph. She spoke of that experience for many years. Up until she stopped driving at 100, one could regularly find her perched in front of her favorite video poker machines in any number of local casinos; this kept her mind sharp over the years.

Having been raised in bustling New York City, she saw and experienced so much. She was in attendance at the very first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. She lived through the Spanish Flu and the Great Depression; survived scarlet fever, mumps, whooping cough, and measles in her youth; beat metastatic melanoma at the age of 100; and more recently survived COVID-19 at the age of 103 – she was one tough lady!

Dorothy is preceded in death by her parents, brother Ralph Richardson, sister Muriel Humes Digles, brother Alfred Richardson (she was the youngest of four), husband Russell, son Timothy, and granddaughter Toni Burns. She is survived by two sons, Bruce Burns of AK, and Speed Burns of NV; grandchildren Russell Burns II, Denise (Dale) Leonard of NV, Laura (Luis) Ruiz of WA, Penny Burns of AK, Tim (Courtney) Burns II of AK; and great grandchildren Arianna Byrne of WA and 7 others along with 3 great great grandchildren.

A viewing will be held on Thursday, November 16, from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM at Palm Boulder Highway Mortuary & Cemetery located at 800 South Boulder Highway, Henderson, Nevada. She will later be laid to rest between her beloved husband and son in Throop, NY.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmboulderhighway.com for the Burns family.