Joe Clyde Burleson

JOE CLYDE BURLESON – Born October 11, 1927 in Hobart, Oklahoma to William Clyde Burleson and Bertha Goode Burleson. Joe grew up on the Oklahoma State Fish Hatchery in Byron, Oklahoma with his three sisters and two brothers, attending school in a one room schoolhouse.

After serving in the US Army during WWII, Joe went to work for Northwest Engineering as a service representative.  He traveled worldwide delivering giant cranes and draglines, and in 1962 had the honor of breaking ground with a Northwest dragline for what would become the Houston Astrodome.  Joe later started his own construction equipment sales company, invested in several Texas oil wells, and was co-owner of McLaren-Burleson Real Estate Company in Austin Texas before retiring to Hot Springs Village in 1989.

An avid golfer, Joe competed as an amateur in the Byron Nelson Pro-Am in 1978.  After arthritis kept him from golfing, he spent many hours fishing Lake Ouachita with guide Greg Willingham, and on one such occasion, he was joined by then Governor Mike Huckabee.

Preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife Irma (Pribble) Burleson, and daughter-in-law Darlene Randles.  Joe is survived by his wife Nancy Corr Burleson of Hot Springs Village AR, son David (Tori) Burleson of Arlington, Texas, daughter Susan Morris of Dallas, step-son Jason (Kate) Ennis of Orlando Fl, and son-in-law Bradley Randles of Washington IL;  grandchildren Beth Burleson (Mike Perez), Bryant Burleson, and Avery Ennis; sisters Frances (Bob) Kraft of Burlington Ok, Betty (Wallace) Kirkpatrick of Byron Ok, Cordelia Zahorsky of Dacoma Ok; brothers Warren (Meron) Burleson of Cherokee Ok and John (Patricia) Burleson of Morrisville Pa; his best friend of many years, Lt. Gen. James Knight of Austin Texas, and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to give special thanks to the wonderful caring staff at Hospice Home Care, and to special friends Ken Wachtendorf and Kenny Ross.

Joe was very concerned this year when his nephew, Derick Burleson of Alaska, a college professor and gifted poet, suddenly passed away leaving a teenage daughter without a college fund.  Donations in Joe’s honor may be made to Mirabel Burleson’s education fund, made payable to Edward Jones, PO Box 626, Alva OK 73717 with memo “529 Mirabel Burleson”.  Joe did not want a funeral service but he always loved a good party.  A celebration of Joe’s life will be held at a future date at home.