Richard Larry Burns

March 16, 1937 - August 13, 2026

Richard Larry Burns was born to Thurman Harwood Burns and Violette Estelle (Southerland) Burns on March 16th, 1937, in Healdton, Oklahoma. Richard lived in Wilson (Carter County) Oklahoma until he was 8 years old. Richard and his three sisters Sue, Mary and Dee Dee moved with their mother to Tucson, AZ, where his mother Estelle married Floyd Phillips. Richard played football at Tucson High his freshman year and moved to Yuma his sophomore year to live with his Granny Effie (Dunham Southerland) Wood and his step-Grandfather Willie G Wood.

Richard was 17 when he joined the United States Air Force and proudly served from 1954 to 1958. In 1956, he obtained his GED while stationed in Guam. He was an Airman One when his mother Estelle died and finished his service to the US Air Force working as a Military Police Officer.

After leaving the Air Force, he worked as a Heavy Equipment Operator and became a member of the Arizona Operating Engineers Local 428 from 1958 to 1994. He married Elizabeth Nancy Anne Weeks November 12, 1958, and made Tucson, AZ their home. Richard and Betty had three children together, Betsy Lynn Burns Mueller 10-7-1959, Lori Anne Burns McArdle 10-06-1960, and Robert Larry Burns 10-01-1963. Richard did earth moving construction work for various contractors mostly in Arizona and New Mexico, to include underground utilities, road work and building site work. He spent his last 25 years of his career working for M.M. Sundt Construction Company. In 1994, Richard retired. He and his wife Betty moved to Lake Leon in Eastland, Texas. After 46 years of marriage together his wife Betty passed away May 22, 2004. After Betty’s passing Richard lived with, and married Mary Elaine McIntyre (Renick) Burns in July 2007. Richard and Elaine made Eastland, Texas their home until 2017, when they moved to Globe, Arizona.

Richard lived a life built around family, service, hard work, and the outdoors. He enjoyed being outdoors and having his hands in the earth gardening and mulching. He loved being at the lake, most often fishing and boating, and he enjoyed keeping track of the lake’s water levels and the weather forecast.

Richard passed away in Globe, Arizona, age 89, at Heritage Health Care and in the care of THEMA Hospice on August 13th, 2026.

He is survived by his spouse of 19 years Elaine (McIntyre Renick) Burns of Globe, Arizona; his children Lori McArdle and Bob Burns of Tucson, Arizona; his sisters Sue and Mary of Ardmore, Oklahoma; his grandchildren DJ, Ricky, Samantha, Jessica, Ashley, David, Kailyn and Luke; his great grandchildren Kyle, Chyann and Kyle; as well as his step-children Beth Zamora of Silver City, New Mexico and Kathy Hughes of Chico, California.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Dee Dee, his first wife Betty, and his daughter Betsy.

Richard will be cremated, his ashes returning to Lake Leon. A place he loved becoming his final resting place. There will be a graveside gathering and service of family and friends at Staff Cemetery Lake Leon, Texas on Saturday, September 26th at 5:30pm followed by a celebration of life