David Leon Burris

David Leon Burris, age 93, recently passed after a brief illness. David was a long time Kingsburg resident and great-grandson of David Edward Burris, an 1849 California pioneer who came to Kings County with his family in 1854. The Burris family patriarch established a 5,000-acre ranch in addition to later working as a banker in Sonoma. In 1923, his sons donated 54 acres of a choice oak grove to Kings County for a park to be established in the name of their parents, David and Julia. David was born February 5, 1930 in Kingsburg, to parents Leon Edward Burris and Kathleen (Johns) Burris. He attended area schools, lettering in football (as captain and most valuable player in his senior year), track, and baseball high school athletics. Additionally, he loved to play trumpet in the school orchestra and subsequently graduated from Kingsburg High School in 1948. In October of 1949, he married his high school sweetheart Shirley E. Haire, together having three sons. He went on to play football and learn to be an aircraft mechanic at Reedley College. After graduating, he was first employed as a helicopter and plane mechanic in the agriculture business, and then as a F86 fighter jet mechanic for the North American Aviation company located at the Fresno Airport. In 1957, David returned to the family ranch business to grow cotton, corn, alfalfa, and raise Hereford cattle for the remainder of his career. Amongst his many hobbies, David pursued building boats and water skiing, getting his pilot's license and owning and flying in succession his Champion, Stinson, and Navion airplanes from his ranch landing strip. Even starting at age 54, for 10 years David was a driver and chief mechanic in the racing of limited stock and super stock cars, primarily at the Madera Speedway. He, alongside Shirley, continued his love for driving by traveling the nation in their RV with their Kingsburg friends. David was preceded in death by his wife Shirley and son Richard. He is survived by sons David and Lisa (wife), and Douglas and Patricia (wife); grandchildren Kristen and Jeremiah (husband) O'Riordan, Lauren, Christopher and Kelly (wife), and Jayson and Leigh (wife); great-grandchildren Cole, Rylie and Brandon (husband) Murphy, Mackenzie and Rocklin (husband) Loranger, Laney, Julieanna, Brookelyn, Skye; and great-great-grandchild Leighton. The family would also like to acknowledge the caring and compassionate services from the Hines Hospice and the California Armenian Home both of Fresno. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the donor's favorite charity or the Burris Park Foundation for Outdoor Education, 6500 Clinton Avenue, Kingsburg, CA 93631. A graveside service will be held at the Kingsburg Cemetery on Monday, March 13th at 1 p.m. Further information is available through the Salser, Dillard, and Creighton Chapel in Kingsburg. Services have been entrusted to Salser & Dillard Creighton Chapel. Memorial Tributes and condolences may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com.

David Leon Burris

February 5, 1930 - February 24, 2023