BURCHETT, Wayne Oscar

BURCHETT, CARNS, BARTOPN, MCCABE, BOLES

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 3/2/2015 at 02:47:10

Leon Journal-Reporter
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
March, 2001

Obituary ~ Wayne Oscar Burchett
December 25, 1920 ~ March 23, 2001

Wayne Oscar BURCHETT, son of Orval and Alice BURCHETT, was born December 25, 1920 at the family farm near Grand River, Iowa and died March 23, 2001 at Mount Ayr, Iowa after a lengthy illness. He was 80.

He graduated from Grand River high school in 1938. As a youth, Wayne was a 4-H member and showed prize-winning cattle. As an adult, he was a 4-H leader and served as a County Fair Board member. He married Gayle Elaine CARNS July 18, 1942. They had two daughters, Anne and Cathy.

Mr. BURCHETT played basketball in high school and later officiated high school basketball. He once refereed a game played locally by the Harlem Globetrotters. He joined a classmate in starting the Grand River Alumni Association annual picnic. Mr. BURCHETT was a charter member of the Grand River Lions Club. He served as choir director and administrative board member as well as many other responsibilities at the Grand River United Methodist Church.

He lived in Decatur county and operated the Orval BURCHETT and Sons Hereford Ranch, a century farm, raising registered Herefords, and was a member of the American Hereford Association. He hosted an international tour of cattle breeders for the Iowa Hereford Association.

For nearly 40 years Mr. BURCHETT also owned and operated accounting, insurance and tax services with offices in Murray and Kellogg. He conducted tax seminars for colleagues around the state, and in 1991 he served as president of the Iowa Accountants Association.

Wayne BURCHETT was a man with creative energy who was an oil painter, carpenter, leather smith, builder, inventor and innovator. He enjoyed music, sports, raising and riding horses and serving his community.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Wanda and brother Wade.

He is survived by his wife Gayle BURCHETT of Mount Ayr; daughter Anne BARTON and her husband Lester of Chandler, Arizona; daughter Cathy McCABE and her husband Michael of Gilbert, Arizona; grandsons, Kenneth and Jacob BARTON of Chandler, Arizona, Douglas and Andrew McCABE of Seattle, Washington; great-grandchildren, Alexander and Ava McCABE of Seattle; one sister Wilda BOLES of Grand River; as well as other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held on March 26, 2001 at the Grand River United Methodist Church in Grand River with Pastor Rick HAWKINS officiating. Penny GONSETH was the musician and Emil RINDERSPACHER the soloist. Bearers were Eric BOLES, Terry BOLES, Allen BURCHETT, Keith BURCHETT, Marshall BURCHETT, Richard BURCHETT, Merrill CARNS and Bernard STOGDILL. Honorary bearers were Mary BREHENY, Bill BREHENY, Robert BURCHETT, Kate BURCHETT, Robert CONWELL, David COOPER and Frank REASONER. Interment was in the Grand River Cemetery, Grand River.

Arrangements were made through the Slade ­ O'Donnell Funeral Home of Leon, Iowa.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Greater Iowa Chapter of the Alzheimers Association, 700 E. University Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50316.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2015