Martha Dell Joyner Burnett

Our Beloved Mother, Martha Dell Joyner Burnett passed away in Austin, Texas, on Monday, November 21, 2016, at the age of 93. She was born in El Paso, Texas, on July 17, 1923, to the Reverend William Joyner and Martha Perry Joyner.

At the age of six months or so, Martha’s parents moved to San Antonio, Texas, where Martha was raised with her siblings on Cooper Street. Martha married Captain Paull C. Garrett on her birthday in 1942. They had two sons together, William (Bill) and Paull. Paull Garrett was killed in action while serving in the U.S. Air Army Corps in WWII. Martha later married George P. Burnett and they had six children together: George, Richard, Martha, Suzanne, Kathy and Robert (Bobby). Martha lived and worked for most of her life in Dallas, Texas, where her younger children were raised. While living in Dallas, Martha worked as a Passport Deputy for the U.S. Government from 1974 to 1984. She retired at the age of 62, and then she moved back to San Antonio and lived there for about fifteen years. When Martha was about 79 or 80 years old, she moved to Austin, Texas, and she has lived in Austin since that time.

Martha is preceded in death by her parents, her two husbands, her infant son, Richard Heather, her adult son George, brothers, William, Bowie, James and Erskine and one sister, Mildred Streich. Martha is also preceded in death by her granddaughter, Martha Shannen Reid. About five weeks before our mother Martha Dell passed away, her brother-in-law, Loren Taylor, passed away at the age of 93.

Martha is survived by her sister, Ruth Taylor; her sister-in-law, Dorothy Joyner (wife of Bowie); son, Bill Burnett and his wife Andrea; son, Paull Burnett and his wife Sharon; late son, George Burnett’s wife, Rebecca; daughter, Martha Logan; daughter, Suzanne and her husband Ricky King; daughter, Kathy and her husband Randal Reid; and son, Bobby Burnett and his wife, Susie. Mom is also survived by many nephews and nieces.

Also surviving are eleven grandchildren: Paull III Garrett (wife Diane), Kristine Burnett, Daniel Burnett, George Burnett (wife Paige), Amelia Logan (husband Erik Flores), Nathan Logan, Chase King, Ashley King Gawron (husband Mike Gawron), Ryan Reid, Jack Reid (wife Rebecca), Jade Burnett, and Hunter Burnett.

Martha’s ten great-grandchildren are: Paull Garrett’s children, Elizabeth Jane and Paull IV; Daniel Burnett’s children, William, Owen and Charlotte; George Burnett’s children, Price, Cole and Brooke; Amelia Logan’s daughter, Iliana; and Ashley Gawron’s son, Robby.

The family would like to thank the staff at Grace House. Mom called Grace House home for three years prior to her death. Especially at the end of her life, everyone at Grace House helped us and Mom through her final week with grace, dignity and endless care and kindness. Thank you to Robert Gower and his staff with Visiting Physicians for his weekly visits and ongoing care.

We would also like to thank Altus Hospice of the Hills for helping Mom to transition and for their very caring support of the family for the last six days of Mom’s life.

A Celebration of Martha’s Life will be at 1:00 P.M., Saturday, January 21, 2017, in the Chapel of Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home with Rev. Abigail Parker-Herrera officiating. Inurnment Service will follow at 3:30 P.M., at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Memorial Park.