Cloudy, 56° F
(July 24, 2006)
Long-time Powell resident Ernest R. Burns died July 24 at Autumn Care in Billings.
He was 89.
He was born Feb. 19, 1917, in Ottawa, Kan., to Albert and Ruey (Goodwin) Burns. He arrived on the train in Powell Feb. 19, 1918, on his first birthday. He was with the CCC the summer of 1934 and graduated from Powell High School in 1935. He lived and worked there until September 2002 when he and his wife moved to Billings to be closer to medical facilities.
On Nov. 20, 1942, he married Inez Claudson. They farmed on the Willwood and also the South Fork. Later they bought a farm in Burlington. After a few years they sold that farm and moved back to Powell. He helped his wife with her Star Mail Route when not working at other jobs. Later he took a trucking mail route, leaving Ralston at 5 p.m. and arriving in Worland at 8 p.m. after picking up mail in all the towns along the way. He returned each morning with the mail from each town, doing this for 19 years, never having an accident of any kind. He was driver of the month and received a trophy from the Wyoming Trucking Association for safe driving. He retired in 1984.
He enjoyed his family, hunting, camping and fishing. He and his wife were long-time members of the Nazarene Church in Powell.
He is survived by his wife, Inez; two daughters and their husbands, Sandra and Calvin Pierce of Billings and Karen and Lee Grundhauser of Lovell; three grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a sister, Opal, and her husband Junior Johnson of Prineville, Ore.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Bobby.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service is being planned at a later date.
