Marie Adams Burns

Marie Adams Burns passed away on the evening of Tuesday, November 18th, surrounded by her loving family. Marie was born in North Little Rock, Arkansas on November 25, 1932, to Iva Lee (Jackson) and David Roy Adams. She was predeceased by her parents, grandsons Jeremy Adams Bain and David Henry Burns. She is survived by her husband of 75 years, Lt. Col. Billie Rex Burns, USA (Ret.). She is also survived by her sister Betty Lou Allen of Albany, Georgia; her children Col. Michael Adams (Peggy) Burns, USA (Ret.) of Dardanelle, Arkansas; Lt. Col. Ronald K. (Etta) Burns, USMC (Ret.) of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas; Carol (Scott) Seeley of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas; and Cathy Marie Burns (Gary Ragen) of Cabot, Arkansas. She leaves behind eight grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren. She loved each and every one of them with all her heart.

Marie grew up on a row crop farm in the Olmstead community of Pulaski County. She lived without electricity or running water. She attended Bayou Meto grade school and graduated from Jacksonville High School in 1950. During World War II her mother worked in the Ordnance Plant and Marie cared for her siblings and the family home.

On November 11, 1950, she and Bill were married in North Little Rock, Arkansas. She immediately moved to his Army post in North Carolina, becoming a military wife and homemaker for the next twenty-five years. She accompanied him to several posts in the United States and Germany, living overseas for over six years on two occasions. She supported and participated with him in his duties with the Army, becoming a member of his units. At the same time, she managed the household and education of their children. She was frequently the sole parent during his deployment in the Korean and Vietnam wars and during his many other absences. Because of her efforts, encouragement, and support, each of her children graduated from college.

After the Army, the family built a home and moved to Cabot, Arkansas. Marie continued her relationship with the military by volunteer work at the Little Rock AFB and the Red Cross. She also continued traveling and visited several countries in Europe, as well as travel to Korea and Japan. She enjoyed visiting parks with her grandchildren when they were young and their visits during holidays. She also devoted herself to genealogy research and compiling family histories.

Visitation will be held at Smith Westbrook Funeral Home, 404 W. Dewitt Henry, Beebe on Saturday, November 22nd from 12 noon – 1:00 p.m., with services to immediately follow. Interment will be at Grissard Cemetery in El Paso, Arkansas.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Grissard Cemetery Corporation.

The family wishes to give a special thank you to her caregivers, Bonita, Bobbie and Billie, who took care of her until the end. Also, thank you to Lifetouch Hospice services who took excellent care of her during her final days.

To view the online registry: www.smithfamilycares.com