BURNS, Lee Roy - Putnam

Lee Roy Burns was born in Putnam County near Greencastle, Indiana on Sept 21, 1889.  He was the son of James Augustus and Gertrude Turner Burns. Their children were Arminda Nevada, who married Samuel Jackson of Cory; Francis Jane, who married Jess Jackson of Clay City; Pearl Albert; William Elmer; Nettie Florence; Lee Roy; Ralph Emerson; Flossie Lila; Besie Eileen and Dovie Cleo. Only Arminda, Francis and Roy lived in Clay County.  James was a farmer and moved often finally settling in West Terre Haute in 1898 where several of his sons were employed. When Roy was 18 he went to work at the National Drain and Tile Factory and later at the National Brick Factory. During this time he met Minnie Ethel Herrington of Marshall, Illinois; they were married November 1, 1911. She was 5th of the 9 children of James and Minnie Swope Herrington and was born in Marshall in 1890.  After their marriage Roy and Minnie rented in West Terre Haut where their first three children were born: Kenneth Lee Roy (1912); Harold Raymond (1914) and Gretchen Alberta (1917).  Their last child, Marjorie May was born at the Root’s farm in Vigo County in 1924.  After work began to slacken in the clay factories, Roy moved to several places in Vigo and Clay Counties as a tenant farmer, finally settling with Miller & Sins in Clay County in 1928. He worked here until 1944 when he was severely injured by a steer. During his recovery, he moved to Staunton, where two of his children, Kenneth and Gretchen already lived. His daughter, Majorie and her husband, Robert Keyt (? Smudge) purchased the same place later and Roy now lived with them.  ? passed away on Oct 20, 1955. Of Ray’s children Kenneth married Alice G. Russell, daughter of George and Grace Brann Russell April 24, 1936. They moved from Terre Haute to Staunton in 1938 where their first three children were born : David Eugene; Janette Marie; and Sharon Kay. In 1946 they bought the property of Mary Jane Anderson who had died shortly before at age 100. Here their last child Mary Ann was born.  In 1964 hey moved to property on the edge of Staunton, formerly called “Wardlaw Grove” and now owned by James and Sharon Burns Buell. Kenneth’s son David married Anita Browning of Terre Haute. He now lives in Indianapolis and has two children.

Janette married Jerry Peebles, son of Frank and Maxine Peebles of Staunton. They live in Staunton and have a son, Joseph Scott. Frank and Jerry Peebles have both done work with the volunteer fire department.  Sharon married James Ross Buell son of James Ross and Pauline McKinney Buell, and grandson of Ross and Nettie Buell of Staunton. Sharon and Jim lived on State Road 42 until 1964, when they also moved to the Wardlaw Groves area. They have two children, Jeffery Douglas and Mary Jay. They are both teachers and have worked in schools at Staunton, Van Buren, Cloverdale and one year at Vevay Indiana. Mary Ann married Larry Wayne Weaver son of Jeanne Harris and stepson of John Harris of Staunton. Mary Ann is a teacher and has taught at Honey Creek and Loogootee. Her husband has worked for the navy at Crane Naval Depot and in Arizona and Virginia. They have two children, Lori Ann and Shelly Jean.  Roy’s son Harold married Doris Harden of Vigo County where they lived. Their daughter, Charleen is married to Jerry Cooprider of Clay City and they have a daughter, Jacqueline Kay. Roy’s daughter, Gretchen married Robert Edgar Meneely, son of John Herbert and Pearl Gibbons Meneely of Center Point. They moved to Staunton in 1941. Their children are: Larry Paul; Gary Keith (1942-1970) and Dennis Robert.  Robert Meneely was a carpenter and owned Brazil Roofing and Siding until his retirement in 1974.  Larry has worked for a coal company in Illinois and Indiana. Gary married Janet Henry, daughter of Lee and Lavelle Henry of Staunton and they have a daughter Dena Lee. He worked with his father until his death. Dennis Robert married Penny Pierce and lives in Staunton with his stepdaughter, Elizabeth Ann.  Roy’s daughter Marjorie married Raymond O’Hern of Lena and had a son, Connie Lee. After Raymond’s death Marjorie married Robert Keyt of Carbon and they moved to Staunton in 1952. Connie has been marshal of Staunton since 1969.  He married Judy Foxx of Putnam County.  They were divorced and he then married Becky O’Hair of Cloverdale. He has three stepchildren: Todd; Angela and Marcie.  

ROY BURNS – obit – Staunton, Ind – Services for Roy Burns, 86, formerly of Putnam County and Terre Haute, who died at 3:10 p.m. Wednesday in Clay County Hospital, Brazil will be at 10:30 a.mn. Saturday at Lawson-Slack Funeral Home with Rev. Gary Thomas officiating. Burial will be in Summit Lawn Cemetery. Friends may call after 4 p.m. Friday. A former farmer he was a retired carman for Milwaukee Railroad and a past president of Staunton Town Board. He was a member of North Union United Methodist Church and retired Railroad men’s Association.  Surviving are two sons, Kenneth L RR 12, Brazil and Harold, Terre Haute; two daughters, Mrs. Gretchen Meneely and Mrs. Marjorie Keyt, both of Staunton, two sisters, Mrs. Lelia Hurst, Princeton and Mrs. Dovie Evinger, Evansville, 8 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

NOTE: -- Dave Burns writes:

Karen, I was looking at the bio of Lee Roy Burns on the US Gen web site. There are a couple of corrections/additions: His daughter, Marjorie and her husband, Robert Keyt purchased the same place later and Roy then lived with them. Marjorie’s husband was Robert Edgar Mcneely. Lee Roy’s wife Minnie had passed away October 20, 1955.  Lee Roy passed away 14 Apr 1976 at the Clay County Hospital.

The article is in Biographies – Burns, Lee Roy

At bottom Gretchen (25 May 1917 – 15 Feb 1987) – married Oct 14, 1937 Robert E. Meneely (16 Jan 1913 – 18 June 1996) buried with her in Summit Lawn Cemetery at Brazil, Clay County

Marjorie’s stone says Meneely but FindAGrave has her only married to the Keyt (Robert Wesley - 1952) and first 1944 Raymond Frederick O’Hern – 1944) – do see Robert Keyt died 1978 and she in 1990 so may have married the third time to Meneely