Donald Burnett

Donald Lee Burnett, age 88 of Ozark, Missouri formerly of La Cygne, Kansas died Saturday October 6, 2012 at the Elfindale Manor in Springfield, Missouri. He was born on February 23, 1924, to Lee Toal and Vivian D. Haynes Burnett on the family farm west of LaCygne. Donald graduated from LaCygne High School in 1941 and attended Kansas State University until the fall semester of 1942 when the College of Agriculture was closed due to WWII. He was a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. Donald returned to the family farm where he continued to farm, ranch and owned and trained race horses. He and Meredith June Rose were married on December 6, 1944. Donald was a 26 year employee of the US Postal Service where he served as a Rural Letter Carrier and received a 25 year Safe Driver Award. Donald became a member of the Cadmus Grange at age 14 and was a continuous member until his death. He enjoyed working with the Cadmus 4-H Club where he was a long-time leader. In 1945, Donald became a member of the LaCygne Masonic Lodge and in 1946 he became a 32nd degree Mason in the Fort Scott Consistory. Donald belonged to the Mirza Temple in Pittsburg and was a member of the Royal Order of Jesters, Order of Quetzalcoatal. In 1952, he became a permanent contributing member of the Shriners Hospitals for Crippled Children. His service of singing at the Shriners Hospitals with the Mirza Temple Quartet, accompanied by Mirza''s Dixieland Band brought him great joy. Donald loved gathering family and friends together and always welcomed his daughters'' friends into the Burnett fold. He especially enjoyed taking his grandchildren fishing in Colorado and Canada. After retirement Donald and Meredith made their homes in Texas and Colorado before moving to Missouri to be near family. He was preceded in death by his parents Lee T. and Vivian D and sister Eleanor Burnett Lewis. Survivors include his wife Meredith Rose of the home, four daughters: Donna Keyser, Diane Janke, Denise McIntosh, and Deena Burnett. Grandchildren include Jim Janke, Brandon Keyser, Jamie Pearson, Jared Miller, Dakota Kahn and Tyler Kahn. His great grandchildren are Kadin and Kennedy Pearson. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Wednesday October 10, 2012 at the La Cygne United Methodist Church. A Masonic Services will be held at 5:30 pm with visitation to follow until 7:30 pm Tuesday October 9 at the Schneider Funeral Homes and Crematory La Cygne Chapel. Burial will be in the Oak Lawn Cemetery in La Cynge. The family suggests contributions to the Shriner''s Children Hospital or the La Cygne Public Library. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.schneiderfunerals.com. Arrangements: Schneider Funeral Homes and Crematory La Cygne Chapel.

Visitation Details

Tuesday, October 9th, 2012 5:30pm - 7:30pm, Schneider Funeral Homes & Crematory La Cygne Chapel

Service Information

Wednesday, October 10th, 2012 11:00am, La Cygne United Methodist

Interment Details