This will not be a typical obituary, because our Dad and Papaw was not a typical man. It will be full of truth, a little fiction, and a few sharp-witted bits of commentary, much like the man it is remembering.

Bluford Elvis Burton, Sr., 88, of Monahans, died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, September 1, 2018, at the Clyde Nursing Center in Clyde, Texas. B.E., as everyone knew him, was born November 18, 1929 in Coleman, Texas to Walter Elvis and Lurla Mae (Shelton) Burton. He was the third of seven children.
Around the age of 16 or so, B.E. enlisted in the navy and became an airman. He served in the Pacific during WWII and was, apparently, well-known to Admiral Nimitz for all the wrong reasons. He crash landed in the ocean and was afloat at sea for several days, and because of sun damage to his eyes during that time, wore green lenses in his glasses for the rest of his life. He was a Japanese P.O.W. for almost a year. After the war he continued his time serving in the Navy reserves. He had more than a few stories of his Navy days, including playing on a football team in San Diego, "getting lost" and ending up in Alaska, and generally causing chaos as young men do. He earned multiple purple hearts during his service.

B.E., at various times in his life, worked and played in a variety of jobs and roles. He was a miner, a farmer, a rancher, a heavy equipment mechanic, a welder, an oil field operator, a fiddler and steel guitar player for a Country and Western band, a construction worker and supervisor, a rodeo cowboy, and a boot-legger, so the stories go.

B.E. was what most people would call a character. He spoiled his grandchildren with candy and loved to give everyone in the family inexplicable nicknames like "Tickweasel", "Oscar" and "Shortstuff". He loved to hide Easter eggs each year and the holidays were marked by the sudden appearance of an antique electric train that he was always tickled to set up. His mind was full of what became known as "Burtonisms"- many of which are not repeatable in polite company. But he would settle any argument with him by saying, "If I tell you a horse is gonna lay an egg, you better go build it a nest!"

B.E. would mostly be found spending his days outside working and his evenings in front of the TV til the late late hours watching John Wayne and Roy Rogers movies, old episodes of Bonanaza, or, unexplainably, the movie Ever After. He instilled in much of his family a love for music and taught many to play, happily buying instruments for anyone who expressed an interest. During the first weekend of July, without fail, you would find him at the family reunion his dad began in Coleman, Texas, where he enjoyed visiting with family, fiddling a tune, playing with his grandchildren, and generally causing chaos as old men do.

On December 24, 1953, he eloped to Carlsbad, New Mexico with Jeanie Ruth Overby. They didn't tell her family they were married for a few weeks. She would be his wife for the next 64 years,and was one of the few people who could make him listen and reign in his determination and stubborn streak- sometimes. Together they raised three children. B.E. spent his final years taking care of Jeanie through her battle with dementia, and he died less than four months after her death in May of 2018.

B.E. left behind a lot of family who love him - two daughters, Barbara Russell of Monahans and Nancy Sipes and husband Kevin of Clyde; one brother, U.S. Burton and wife Frances of Sweetwater; three sisters, Pearl Ayers of Eula, Wanda Young of Canyon and Barbara Hoover and husband Herb of Sweetwater. Three grandchildren and their spouses made his heart happy; Jeff Burton and wife Trish and Kevin Burton and wife Tabitha, all of Clyde, and Casey Smith and husband Shane of Lewisville. B.E. was blessed with seven great-grandchildren, Jessica Herreid, Colton Burton, Brooke Burton, Dillon Burton and wife Summer, Payton Burton, Devin Burton, and Adalyn Smith. He even lived to know and love two great-great-grandchildren, Braylee and Kalyn Goble.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his precious wife Jeanie; his son, Blu Burton; one brother, Garland Burton; and one sister, Jean McGuire.
Memorial services for B.E. will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 8, 2018, at the Bailey Howard Funeral Home Chapel in Clyde, Texas with Larry Bennett presiding. Visitation will be from 9:00 until 11:00 a.m. prior to the service. Instead of flowers, please make donations to Hendrick Hospice Care Center in Abilene.

Papaw, we will miss your smile, and wit, your fiddling and stubbornness, your eagerness to always help no matter what was needed, your nicknames and your teasing. I'm sure you're in heaven with Grandma and Blu causing a little chaos, as you so wonderfully do.