J.L. Burgin Jr.

1926 - 2011

DENISON - J.L. Burgin Jr., longtime Denison resident, passed away Jan. 28, 2011 after a short illness.
The son of Jay L. Burgin Sr. and Mattie Sperry Burgin, he was born Feb. 28, 1926 in Collinsville.
Due to the severe weather, services have been postponed until 1:30 p.m. Friday at Johnson-Moore Funeral Home in Denison. Family night will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday. Burial will be in Cedarlawn Memorial Park with military honors conducted by the U.S. Marine Corps.
J.L. was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Sylvia; daughter, Aneita Kay Raper; and son-in-law, Freddie Raper.
It was during his early high school years he met his life long love, Sylvia Chloe Bothe.
J.L. left high school to fight for our country in World War II. As a United States Marine he was in the 4th Marine division and 3rd Marine Raiders on Iwo Jima. He had been home for two weeks when he married Sylvia on July 4, 1946.
He worked for Chris Waltz Plumbing Supply, was a plumber and air compressor mechanic at Perrin Air Force Base, was parks superintendent for the City of Denison and, eventually, retired from Denison Oxygen Supply as a truck driver and equipment repair man.
J.L. and Sylvia were well known and highly respected as musicians locally and nationally. In 1968, they won second place in the national finals of the Ted Mack Amateur Hour with their yodeling dog, Hortense. They were on the Merv Griffin Show and toured with well known artists such as Ernest Tubb, George Jones, Loretta Lynn and the Wilburn Brothers.
They were known across the country for playing VFW conventions and parades. Locally, in later years, they played stage shows and Senior Citizens Centers, especially in Denison.
J.L. is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Jan and Keith Pannell of Gordonville; grandchildren, Clayton Cunninham, Holly Nunley and her husband Steve, Jihl Davee, and Jacob Mathews and his wife Mandi all of Denison, Shandi Morris and her husband Kennon of Howe, Keith Pannell Jr. of Austin, Angela Williams and her husband Troy of Denton and Deidra Pannell of Lewisville; great-grandchildren, Asa Hall, Dylan Davee, Jada and Jenna Mathews, Zadrian, Amarise and Andronica Morris, Jorja Pannell, Evan and Teagan Williams, Chris and Jesse Nunley.
Pallbearers are Rick Hood, Randy Hood, Dale Pannell, Tom Yeley, Joe Schovanec, and Paul Mathews.
Condolences may be registered to www.johnsonmoorefuneralhome.net.