Tim Burns

1963 - 2015

Dr. Tim Burns

April 30, 1963 - March 22, 2015

LYONS - Dr. Tim Burns of Lyons died Sunday, March 22, 2015 in a tragic diving accident off the Washington coast. He was born in Long Beach, CA to Jimmie and Doris A.M. Burns, his military family eventually called Seattle home. Dr. Burns attended Queen Anne High School in Seattle and completed his undergraduate degree at Carroll College in Helena, MT. There he met his future wife, Cindy. They were married June 29, 1985 at Immaculate Conception Church in Stayton. Dr. Burns attended dental school at Loyola University School of Dentistry in Chicago, IL, graduating in 1989. He practiced a short time in the Washington and Southern Oregon areas before moving to his wife's hometown of Stayton and establishing his own practice. In 1997, he purchased his father-in-law's long standing pharmacy and converted the 1930's home to a dental practice. By 2006, the practice had outgrown the small office space, and the building gave way to a new, modern Craftsman dental office. Dr. Burns operated the general dentistry practice in Stayton for 18 years. He loved the practice of dentistry and found his true calling assisting the less privileged in the Santiam Canyon through his dental work. Dr. Burns volunteered for the Oregon Mission of Mercy dental corps, the Stayton Community Action Center, and was the only volunteer dentist for the children's dental van servicing under privileged children and families in the Santiam Canyon. He was an active member of the community as well. Dr. Burns held long-standing positions on the YMCA Board, and as Chairman of the Chemeketa Dental Assisting Board, Council position at St. Mary's Church in Shaw, and charter school Board President. Dr. Burns was a member of the Oregon Dental Association and an active member of Stayton/Sublimity Chamber of Commerce, and was named one of America's top dentists in 2008 and 2012. Tim was a loving and devoted husband and father and his children were his pride and joy. He cherished family time, whether it was hiking with his children, helping them with schoolwork, or just being there for support. He enjoyed agate hunting at the beach, deer and pheasant hunting with family, travel with his wife Cindy and his children, and as a diehard Seahawk's fan, attending Seattle Seahawks games. Dr. Burns was preceded in death by his mother, Doris Burns. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Cindy (Ackerman) Burns; daughters: Ashley Burns and Jessica Burns; and son: Johnathan Burns. In addition to his immediate family, he leaves three sisters: Kathleen (Steve) of Renton, WA, Terri (Jose) of Woodinville, WA, and Shannon of Olympia, WA; brother: Gerry (Margie) of Renton, WA; father: Jimmie Burns of Albany; and father and mother-in-law: Pat and Shirley Ackerman of Salem. A private immediate family service will be held at St. Mary's Church. A public celebration of life reception for family, friends, and the community will be held on April 25, 2015 from 1-4 at Anthony Hall in Sublimity. The family requests no flowers but asks that donations be made in his name to St. Mary's Church in Shaw or to the Oregon Mission of Mercy. Serving the family, North Santiam Funeral Service, Stayton.