Paul Y. Burns

Baton Rouge: Paul Y. Burns, July 4, 1920, to January 5, 2015, who was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and moved to Baton Rouge in 1955, lived a full and generous life. He and his wife Kathleen daily lived their belief to "love God and love your neighbor as yourself." Both dedicated their lives to justice and peace, and to making the world a better place for all. Long time member, leader and elder of University Presbyterian Church, Paul worked through the Baton Rouge faith community to improve race relations and gender equality. His life was enriched with the personal friendships and relationships built through working across faiths and races for civil rights justice in the community of South Baton Rouge. Only recently did he discontinue his service with the Louisiana and Baton Rouge Councils on Human Relations. He received many recognitions and humanitarian awards for his community work and other contributions. Dr. Burns was respected as Director of the LSU School of Forestry, now the School of Renewable Natural Resources. Serving LSU for 31 years, he taught one undergraduate class every year he was director. In retirement, he continued spending time weekly at his LSU office until age 90+, reviewing student and faculty papers, organizing alumni information, and providing departmental history. Paul was an avid tennis player, playing in high school and college, for serious recreation and in the Senior Olympics, past age 90. He had a keen sense of humor and enjoyed being known for his corny jokes. He was also a talented piano player and musician, learning to play as a child and playing the pump organ in the field for his Army Air Corps 21st Weather Squadron and the 370th Fighter-Bomber Group. He entertained his wife, children, grandchildren and most recently his fellow assisted living neighbors with his ability to play the piano by ear, encouraging everyone to sing along. He was proud of his World War II service as a meteorologist in the Army Air Corps, his Yale Forestry degree and work at LSU, his work for racial justice and peace, his tennis awards, and his family. For 12 years, as she struggled with dementia, Paul patiently and lovingly cared for his wife Kathleen. In recent years he enjoyed sharing his life experience through conversations and through writing memoirs. He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul P. and Mary K. Burns and wife, Kathleen Chase Burns. He is survived by his three brothers, Robert C., Gene C., and Donald K. Burns; his three daughters, Virginia Belland (Mark), Margaret Feierabend (Robin), and Nancy McNeill (Paul D.); six grandchildren and two (twin) great grand babies; his "4th daughter", Mary Mikell and her husband, Gaines Foster, and friends and dedicated caregivers, Debra Dupre' and Ariana Walls. University Presbyterian Church community friends who loved and supported him throughout his life remain special to the family. Appreciation from the family goes to the caregivers at the Hospice of Baton Rouge. A celebration of life will be held Saturday January 10, 2015, University Presbyterian Church, 3240 Dalrymple Dr., at 11 a.m. Reception following. In lieu of flowers (he was a forester, not a gardener) memorial gifts may be made to University Presbyterian Church (address above), Baton Rouge, LA 70802 or to LSU Foundation, Paul Y. Burns Scholarship, School of Renewable Natural Resources, Baton Rouge, LA 70803. Paul would be pleased for new members in the Louisiana Council on Human Relations http://www.brchr.org/. Condolences to the family may be sent to: paulyburnslsu@gmail.com">paulyburnslsu@gmail.com">paulyburnslsu@gmail.com">paulyburnslsu@gmail.com.