Rodney Burns

Rodney Wayne Burns, Sr., 69, of Clovis, died on April 18, 2005 at Retirement Ranch in Clovis. He was born on February 9, 1936, in Clovis to Matt Elva Burns.brbrMr. Burns graduated from Clovis High School in 1954 and was president of his graduating class. He was a member of the 1953 Wildcat State Champion Basketball Team. He attended University of Arizona Sul Ross University on a baseball scholarship. He graduated from ENMI with a degree in mathematics. Mr. Burns was a semi-professional baseball player for the American Legion after college. He was employed by the Santa Fe Railroad as an engineer prior to serving as a State Farm Insurance Agent. He coached little league football, basketball and baseball teams for many years. In addition, he was an avid golfer and supporter of the Clovis Wildcat Teams. He was a member of the Optimist Club and a charter member of Kingswood United Methodist Church. In 1983, he married Diane Curry Hays.brbrMr. Burns is preceded in death by his parents and his first wife, Holland Holly Burns.brbrSurvivors include his wife, Diane, of the home; son, Rod Burns Rebecca of Lafayette, Louisiana; sister, Doris Burns of McKinney, Texas; stepson, Marc Hays of Albuquerque, New Mexico; five grandchildren, Leah and Andrew Wormer of Lafayette, Louisiana, Kelsey, Haley and Tyler Hays of Albuquerque, New Mexico; one niece, Pam Mills of Allen, Texas and one great niece, Tawny Svihovec of Dallas, Texas.brbrServices will be held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, April 21, 2005, at Kingswood United Methodist Church with Joseph Vest, minister of Central Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will follow at Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens in Clovis. Pallbearers are Harold Cornish, John Dickson, Matthew Glenn, Charles Guthals, Jack McNeill, Eddie Pullman, Mark Mitchell and Mike Mitchell. Honorary pallbearers are the staff of Retirement Ranch.brbrMemorial contributions may be made to Kingswood United Methodist Church.brbrArrangements are by Steed-Todd Funeral Home, 800 E. Manana, Clovis, New Mexico 88101.br