Clinton "Stan" Stanley Rountree

Clinton Stanley “Stan" Rountree, age 69, of Burnet went home to our Heavenly Father. He passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Sunday morning, March 12 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Stan was born in Austin on June 19, 1953 to Cecil Samuel Rountree and Muriel Christine Davis Rountree. His parents lived in Burnet and drove to Austin for his birth.

Stan earned his bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology with a Minor in Agriculture from Southwest Texas State University in 1977. Stan had many accomplishments. He established Stan’s Fried Chicken and Catfish in Kenedy, Texas and later he established and operated Grumpy’s Eating House in Burnet. He became a Certified Financial Planner; a Realtor for Hanszen Real Estate with a Broker’s license; was instrumental in the development of the Burnet Hamilton Creek Riverwalk Park project; a custom home builder in the Hill Country; and 10 years with LCRA in the Boat Dock Water Safety Program. Stan was very gifted and could repair and fix anything.

Stan loved playing tennis and Pickleball. He found much joy in helping others learn to play a game he loved. He was musically inclined and often played his guitar. In addition to hunting and fishing with the kids, he loved the outdoors and travel and rode his motorcycles all over the country, including to Alaska. He often stated Valdez, Alaska was the most beautiful place he had ever visited.

Stan was a very loving and caring person and took every opportunity to lift others up. He volunteered for several years as a three-year-old Sunday School Teacher; served as a volunteer for the Hill Country Children’s Advocacy Center; coached Little and Junior League Baseball, Little Dribblers Basketball; and assisted to promote Leadership for Cub Scouts Pack 289.

His favorite role in life was being a grandfather “Papa” and did so with a heart full of love. Stan was very dedicated to his faith and ready to meet Jesus and our Heavenly Father. His favorite bible verse is John 4:24. He was a loving and devoted husband and father and will be missed so much more than words can describe.

He met and married Brandi Lee Hinton on September 12, 1981 in Austin. It was love at first sight and recently celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary. Their time was well spent visiting and hiking National Parks and enjoying time with family and friends.

Stan is survived by his wife, Brandi Lee Rountree. “Papa" is also survived by his son Benjamin Keith Rountree and wife Kelly Marie of Burnet; son Christopher Sean Rountree and wife Andrea Lynn of Alford, Texas; sister, Rosemary and husband Nathan Gutowsky of East Bernard; brother Robert and wife Diane Rountree of Austin, his adored 16-month-old grandson Clinton Samuel Rountree (named after him) of Burnet; and older beloved grandchildren Evelynn Faith, Cooper Samuel, and Johnny Jackson Rountree of Alford; cousin Randy Rountree and wife Sarah of Austin; and his nieces and nephews and their children.

“God uses each person to accomplish some part of His purpose.” Dr. James Dobson

Stan’s family welcomes friends to attend his graveside service Friday at 2:00PM at Lakeland Hills Memorial Cemetery on Park Road 4 on Friday March 17, 2023. Our past Pastor Rodney McGee officiating the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to LaCARE in Burnet; The Boys & Girls Club of Burnet; Herman-Brown Free Library in Burnet.

Fond memories may be viewed at www.ClementsWilcoxBurnet.com

Eulogy left by Nathan Gutowsky:

Since Stan's home going my mind has been going down memory lane of the various moments of his life. Doing this to define in some form or fashion just what all Stan meant to me and who or what did I perceive him to be.

It took till this morning while praying that the Holy Spirit revealed to me that Stan accomplished much more than what I read in his obituary. In this world system or kingdom, he was extremely successful and worked extraordinary hard doing it. Yet because of the tender heart that God had created in him he was so humble and thankful giving credit to God for being so good to him. For years he and I have exchanged wishing each other happy birthday and each year that went by his love and gratitude for having such a blessed life grew bigger and bigger!

Stan's love for you Brandi was phenomenal! The time he invested in his sons going, doing, and just being with them and being there for them showcased a true father's heart!

I marvel that even up unto the time where his health started failing him, he was able to do all that you guys were doing. For sure Stan never wasted any of the precious time the Lord had given him. For a long while I've often thought of how much life you all have lived and how it's been a God Orchestrated journey for your entire family. I absolutely see the fullness and joy of life that Stan has lived out here on earth and that's in spite of all the pain and struggles the both of you have endured and gone through. So admire the commitment - courage - strength the both of you battled and fought with so long. It's a living true undeniable testimony of the love you and Stan have for each other.

One last thing, not that there's not more to your life story that I couldn’t go on and on about it. The Stan and Brandi Life Story is and has been prepared a long time ago in Heaven by a most MAGNIFICENT GOD! Stan is just one last breath away for us all!

Love and prayers - Nathan Gutowsky

A heartfelt celebration of Stan's life - from Brandi:

It is so hard to find any words anywhere close to describing how blessed I have been for Stan to share his life with me for over 41 years. This man was the love of my life and we experienced so many blessings throughout our time together. He was truly my Boaz, my Rock, and I could always count on him to be there for me and love me. I will always pine for him.

His last trip was a “bucket list” trip that he and Randy Cassidy, a family friend, had planned for two years riding and winding their way on touring bikes. They traveled west to California, visited several National Parks, then headed up Highway 1 to Oregon and then into Canada toward their ultimate destination of Alaska. When they traveled to Valdez, Alaska, Stan was so in awe of the beauty of the glaciers, the magical iridescent glacier powdered lakes, and nature's spectacular flowers and waterfalls everywhere. He kept telling me Valdez was the most beautiful place on Earth. Nothing compares to it. I’m so glad he was able to make it to Alaska and see all of God’s wonder and beauty. I am fortunate to have trip photos and videos that he sent daily. They show how much he really enjoyed this trip.

They say, “absence makes the heart grow fonder” and it is so true. I miss him just as much today, a year later, as the day I lost him. He had the most wonderful gentle sounding voice and I never could get enough of listening to him. He was very wise in ways and could always put things in perspective. He never raised his voice and was always a calm and happy person with a beautiful smile.

Now when I hear the song “The Dance” by Garth Brooks, I hear it in a completely different way. I met Stan at a dance and I asked him to dance. I was very pleased when he obliged me. Then we were off to a lifetime full of family, friends, and adventure with some work mixed in.

I didn’t know then about the pain he would eventually experience, and I would experience through him during that very difficult time, but I would not have missed my lifelong "dance" with him for anything in the world.

Stan always told me I was the stronger of the two of us. I know for a fact that Stan was the stronger one. I could not have endured the pain that his cancer created. He was a very strong and courageous man and fought a very brave warrior’s battle. He was the pinnacle of what it means to be a man, father, grandfather, brother, son, father-in-law, and beloved husband.

Stan and I were baptized in Lake Buchanan in 2012 by Pastor Rodney McGee, whom we are very fond of. I know Stan is in the best hands possible with our Heavenly Father and Jesus and I am so looking forward to seeing him again one day. We all miss him very much. Stan was so strong remaining amazingly faithful throughout his courageous journey. He has set the bar extremely high and left some mighty big shoes to fill.

We will always be grateful for our family and all our beautiful and wonderful friends for the love and kindness in supporting us through this difficult journey in our lives. Please always remember Stan, as a pillar of a man, with a kind heart and his infectious and beautiful smile.