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William Edgar “Bill” Burr, 84, passed away on December 2, 2022.
Bill was born March 21, 1938, at the Santa Fe Hotel in Pritchett, Colorado. When Bill was three weeks old, his family moved to Tribune, Kansas, as their mother drove the car with him and his three sisters and his father rode horseback, driving a herd of cattle. The family moved to Dodge City, Kansas, when Bill was about five years old. He attended all twelve years of school in the Dodge City school system, graduating in 1956.
Bill’s ambition was to be a veterinarian. After attending church camp, he decided he needed to learn more of the Bible. He enrolled at Ozark Bible College in Joplin, Missouri, and continued until he graduated in 1961 with a Bachelor of Theology with a minor in Missions. He was the first to graduate with this degree. While Bill was in college, he sang with the choir and in a men’s quartet.
In November 1959 he married Roberta Spalding. He ministered at the Christian Church in Walker, Missouri, and Tyro, Kansas, while in college. Upon graduation from college, Bill and Roberta moved to the Tyro area. They welcomed their daughter, Lisa, into their family in August of 1961. In January 1965 the family moved to Chihuahua, Mexico, to serve as missionaries. Bill preached and served two churches in Chihuahua.
In 1966 he began helping his father who had been in the cattle business in Mexico. He did this until he retired in 2004. While the family was in Mexico, they added Lori, Michael and Steven, to the family. The Burrs served in Mexico until August of 1972.
After returning to the United States, Bill continued the work in Chihuahua. Bill later served on the board of Spanish American Evangelistic Ministries, serving as chairman of the Board for several years. Bill worked for several years as a Farmers Insurance Agent while also continuing to work in the cattle business.
When Bill left the insurance business, he devoted his time to being a cattle buyer/seller. He imported registered bulls into Mexico as well as buying steers to export to the United States. In later years his time was devoted to buying rodeo steers. Many of these steers were driven out of the mountains by men on foot. Bill and his partner furnished cattle for the National Finals Rodeo for several years.
In 1999, Bill had a heart attack. Upon recovering, he continued his work in the cattle business. In 2003 he had open heart surgery and retired. In 2004 Bill and Roberta moved back to Oklahoma where they remained until his death.
Bill is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Roberta; four children, Lisa McFadden, Lori Burr, Mike Burr and his wife Kimberly, and Steven Burr; two sisters, Elvoree Drake and her husband Ben, Susan Hightower and her husband Bill; two brothers, Bean Burr and his wife Martha, and Tom Burr; seven grandchildren, Lynette, Sean, Christopher, Kendall, Kealie, Garrett, and Erika; six great-grandchildren, Erin, Isabella, Isla, Carley, Zoe, Walter, and one on the way. Bill was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Gary Burr, Eddie Rex Burr, and J.V. Burr; and six sisters, Janie Walters, Marita Deis, Donita Weece, Carol Ann Burr, Linda Kay Knight, and Judy Helen Burr.
Memorial services will be held and announced on a future date. Arrangements and services are under the direction of Carter Davis and Davis Family Funeral Home – Dewey Chapel. Online condolences and remembrances may be shared at www.DavisFamilyFuneralHome.com.
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