Erma Ruth Burns

SERVICES: 11:00 AM Monday, July 12, 2010, at Bolton Street Baptist Church in Amarillo, with Rev. Leon Green, pastor, officiating. BURIAL: Graveside services will be at 3:00 PM Monday, July 12, 2010 in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Pampa with Rev. Norman Rushing, pastor of Central Baptist Church of Pampa, officiating. Arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa.BIOGRAPHY: Mrs. Burns was born on July 12, 1914 in Electra, Texas, and was one of eleven children born to Emmett and Lizzie Tunnell. She lived in Pampa, Texas for more than 60 years. She married Melton Burns on June 16, 1940. She worked for many years as a manager of a cafeteria in the Pampa school system and lacked only a few weeks being a charter member of the Central Baptist Church in Pampa. In the latter years of her life, she lived in Amarillo and was a beloved member of Bolton Street Baptist Church. In life, the inevitable squabbles and events occurred on both sides of the family, but she was never involved. She was genuinely loved and cherished by all and she had the sweetest and most gentle spirit any of us ever knew. She once said of herself, "I've never been hurt, never been mistreated or abused, or never been hungry. I've walked with the Lord all my life and I guess it's been a pretty good life." In our garden of life, she was our rose.SURVIVORS: a son: Terry Burns and wife Saundra of Amarillo; 2 sisters: Nell Thomas of Nashville, TN and Meta Graves of Electra; 2 grandchildren: Teresa Burns of Houston and Bryan Burns of Carlsbad, NM; 3 step-grandchildren: Kristi Butler of Ennis, Jeff Waters and Marcie Gunter, both of Elk City, OK; 10 great-grandchildren: Jacob Lambright of Palestine; Mandy Lambright of Abilene; Preston Burns, Bryce Burns and Sean Burns, all of Carlsbad, NM; Shanda Henrichs of Rowlett; Kasey Seeberger of Little Rock, AR; Alex Waters, Jalen Gunter and Makayla Gunter, all of Elk City, OK. She was preceded in death by her husband and a son, Trent Burns.SPECIAL NOTICE: Mrs. Burns will lie in state Sunday at Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount, in Amarillo. Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 PM Sunday at Boxwell Brothers.MEMORIALS: Bolton Street Baptist Church Building Fund, 2555 S. Bolton, Amarillo, Texas 79103.