Burris was born on December 24, 1927, in Kansas City, Missouri to Julia Marie McClintock Jones and Cecil Clarence Jones. He was a member of the Independence Rotary, Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity, Church of the Resurrection, and volunteered and supported Young Life in the Kansas City area for over 40 years. He attended Wyandotte High School and the University of Kansas. He served in the Merchant Marine from 1944-1946 and the US Army from 1950-1952 where he was part of the Occupational Forces in Germany.
Burris was an entrepreneur who loved starting new things and meeting new people. He owned and operated several businesses in Omaha and Kansas City. He spent nearly 20 years with Aamco Transmissions first in KCK and then expanding to KCMO, and Independence. He enjoyed mentoring many men as they started their own businesses. After he retired and sold his franchises, he owned two more businesses.
Burris grew up at Lake Quivira and loved water sports, as well as golf, tennis and bike riding. He was instrumental in opening the Brookhill Country Club pool in Omaha and enthusiastically supported the swimming careers and other activities of his children. He loved boating, scuba diving, oceans and lakes. He was an avid fan of the KU Jayhawks, the Chiefs, the Royals and Up With People. Most of all, Burris loved his dogs who were often his walking companions during the last 20 years. He continued to make new friends on his walks and had a pocket full of treats for his canine buddies.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Frances Walters. He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Kathleen (Kay) Daley Jones, his children Becky Arthur (Rex), Kirk Jones (Candice), and Pamela Bullerdick (Todd) and grandchildren David (Nicole) and Maria Arthur and Brandon (Ashley), Matthew, and Mark Bullerdick and Brandi Bullerdick Nichols (Tom) along with five great-grandchildren with the 6th on the way.
Visitation 10-11 am, Funeral 11 am, Monday, August 7 at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, KCMO. A light lunch will be served after the service at Mt. Moriah.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Burris’s name to Young Life: https://giving.YoungLife.org/CathyGarciaJohnson
