Mary Burgess(Tulia)

Mary Harris Burgess Tulia, Texas—Friends, Family and the Community of Tulia and Swisher County, Texas mourns the sudden and unexpected death of Mary Harris Burgess, lifetime resident of Tulia. Mary Harris Burgess, 83, died Wednesday, February 23, 2011 in Lubbock. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 26, 2011 in the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Kay Reed, pastor, Rev. Larry Mills, retired Baptist minister and Rev. Ernie McGaughey, retired Methodist minister officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery in Tulia under the direction of Kornerstone Funeral Directors of Tulia. Mary was born on October 30, 1927, the youngest daughter of five children born to A.J. and Maude Harris, pioneers of Swisher Co. and Tulia, Texas. She grew up here and graduated Tulia High School. She attended one year at North Texas State University then transferred to Texas Tech University to be close to David Burgess whom she married her senior year at Tech on August 28, 1948. Mary taught high school at Tulia her entire teaching career. In the words of one of her students, “She was a friend to every student; she wanted every student to succeed.” Another student said “I would not have learned to type if it weren’t for Mary. She had a wonderful sense of humor and I really thought of her as my favorite teacher.” These stories could be repeated hundreds of times, as she was a positive influence to so many, many lives in her role as a public schoolteacher. Mary was loved and appreciated by everyone in the community and will be missed by family and friends alike. Mary was a lifetime member of the First United Methodist Church and a longtime member of the church choir. Mary was a person of high energy and accomplished so much for her community. She was a member and many times held officer positions in the following organizations: Retired Teachers, Swisher Co. Historical Commission, Swisher Co. Library, Palo Duro Chapter of the D.A.R., Eastern Star, Swisher Co. Museum and Tulia City Council for 6 years. She was the second woman to receive Tulia’s Chamber of Commerce “Woman of the Year” award. Mary was preceded in death by her husband, David, April 16, 2010, her son, Dr. David Brian Burgess, M.D., August 7, 2002, her parents, A.J. and Maude Harris, two brothers, C.L. Harris and James T. Harris. She is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Don Layton and Carolyn Burgess of Flower Mound, TX, four grandsons, Dustin Burgess of Tyler, TX, Devin Burgess and wife Michelle of Chicago, IL, Donovan Burgess and wife Swarren of Wiley, TX and Joshua Burgess of Flower Mound, TX, two great granddaughters, Lily Mae burgess of Chicago, IL and Brook Burgess of Tyler, TX and a third great grandchild due any day to parents Donovan and Swarren Burgess. Mary is also survived by one brother, Ed Harris of Tulia, TX, one sister, Ruth Harris Mills of Amarillo, TX and a host of nieces and nephews and friends. Memorials may be made to the Swisher County Library, 127 SW 2nd St., Tulia, Texas 79088.