James Ross "J.R" Burns

J.R. Burns, 92, of West Orange, Texas, passed away on October 28, 2018, in Orange.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, November 1, 2018, at Calvary Baptist Church in West Orange. Pastor David Millner and Reverend Harold Nazworth will be officiating. Burial will be held at 2:30 p.m., at Pine Island Cemetery in Simpson, Louisiana.

Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.

Born in Simpson, Louisiana, on October 4, 1926, he was the son of Thomas Oscar Burns and Effie Leola (Jackson) Burns. J.R. proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War. He came to Orange to seek employment at the shipyard, but deciding that was not for him, he began working at the Railway Express at the Orange Train Depot, later becoming agent. J.R. then went on to work as a Purchasing Agent for Firestone in Orange, as well as formerly serving as Orange County Commissioner and a West Orange Council member. He was a charter member and Deacon at Calvary Baptist Church. He also spent many years with the Orange County Sheriff’s Posse. J.R. was an avid hunter and enjoyed buying and selling cows. He loved his family dearly and will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Effie Burns; brothers, William Burns and Ralph Burns; and his sister, Rhoda Gill.

Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife of 71 years, Nelda Burns; children, Sherry Shugart and husband Mike, of West Orange and Pam McDonald and husband Mike, of Las Vegas, NV; grandchildren, Michael Shugart and wife Jill, of Orange, Jonathan Shugart and wife Kandis, of Orange, and Jason McDonald and wife Nikki, of Katy; great-grandchildren, Mikaela Stegall, Ty Shugart, Camdyn Shugart, Ava Shugart, Mason Gatlin, Jace McDonald, and Dax McDonald; and his siblings, Berman Burns and wife Janice, of Simpson, LA, Addis Reed, of Benton, LA, and Doris Brown, of Lafayette, LA.

Serving as pallbearers will be Michael Shugart, Jonathan Shugart, Ty Shugart, Camdyn Shugart, Jason McDonald, and Jace McDonald.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the ladies at Golden Years for all of their love and care. They treated our dad like he was family. Also, thank you to Heart of Texas Hospice.