Burrow, Delbert Ray August 5, 1932 - December 8, 2021

Delbert Ray Burrow (“Deb”) was born on August 5, 1932 to Ray and Ruth Burrow (Erma Virginia Ruth Bourland) near Roscoe, Missouri.  He passed away on December 8, 2021 in Loma Linda, California.  He was an only child.  Delbert grew up in St. Clair County, as a child living in Roscoe and Appleton City areas, his parents eventually settling in the Lowry City area.  He graduated high school from Lowry City High School Class of 1950.  His dad, Ray was a farmer and Delbert would help on the farm.  After high school, he continued to farm.

In 1952 he married Lois Lee Albright.  In 1953 he was drafted into the U.S. Army.  Basic training was at Fort Riley, KS, where his major course was for Field Wireman.  Delbert drove home on the weekends while at Ft. Riley.  He was sent to Korea in 1953-1954 during and after the Korean War.  He spent a year and 5 months foreign service and honorably discharged.

After returning from Korea, he purchased a farm house and land in rural Lowry City Chalk Level area.  Eventually, this farm would grow to 390 total acres.  Deb would farm here for over 30 years.  3 children were born to the couple:  Stephen Ray, David Wayne, and Lori Ann.

In 1970, Delbert married Betty Joan “Jo” (Bailey) Hawkins and became a step-father to Angela, Steve, David and Craig.   This marriage created an unusual situation, with two children named Steve and two named David.  From then on, those 4 boys were always referred to by their first and middle names.  Delbert’s children, Lori and David later moved into the home.  A large addition was built to the farm house to accommodate the much larger family.  In 1974, the eighth child, Brandon Shane, was born.

One of Deb’s main passion for most of his life was his deer hunting.  November was looked forward to all year long.  He also enjoyed fishing and mushroom hunting immensely.   He was very proud of the 80lb. flathead cat fish caught on a trotline in Truman Lake in the 90’s.

The family had a Huntsman overhead truck camper, and they enjoyed many trips in that camper.

In 1984, the couple made the difficult decision was made to sell the beloved farm, and move into Lowry City.  Delbert worked several years at Truman Lake Manor (Lowry City) in maintenance, and worked around 30 years in security at KCPL Montrose Power plant and worked well into his 80’s.  During the late 80’s and early 90’s, Delbert and Jo operated the “Mobile Menu” serving meals at Dale Pasley Auction Company auctions.

Delbert was a long-time (43 year) leader of the Lowry City and Lowry City Town & Country 4-H Club as a project leader and supported the club in many of it’s activities and endeavors.  He was inducted into the Missouri 4-H Hall of fame in appreciation for his years of service.    Delbert was also a member of the American Legion and the VFW.   Delbert was honored in 2016 for 32 years leading the Memorial Day placement of flags on veterans’ graves, of which the Town & Country 4-H Club assisted.  Deb and Jo were active members of the Apple Dumplings (Square Dance) of Appleton City in the 1980’s.

Delbert was a charter member of the Church of God (Holiness), and first started attending church there after the church was established in the 1950’s.

Delbert continued to enjoy deer hunting, fishing and mushroom hunting as long as he was physically able.  He enjoyed and loved his grandchildren immensely.  In the late 90’s and 2000’s Deb and Jo were able to make many trips by air, most usually to visit or meet up with family.  A most special destination for them and other members of the family was Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  Multiple trips to Hawaii, California and Mexico were made.

Delbert and Jo enjoyed their cat, Prince, who also enjoyed a long life.   In 2016, Jo passed away fairly unexpectedly after a head injury after a fall which occurred on their 46^th anniversary.  In 2019, Delbert became ill with multiple issues.  At this time he went to stay with son, Brandon, in southern California, where he enjoyed the lower humidity and mild winters.  He still enjoyed keeping up with the Royals and Chiefs, and enjoyed going out to eat and his ice cream.  He missed Missouri, but was grateful for where he was.  He continued to face and overcome multiple health issues, but was able to travel back to Missouri to visit family and friends twice in 2020 and again in October 2021.

Delbert was preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Ruth Burrow, wife Jo Burrow, Step-son David Hawkins, daughter-in-law Myra Burrow.   He is survived by his children:  Stephen Ray Burrow of Osceola, MO, David Wayne Burrow (Debbie) of Brownington, MO, Lori Ann (Burrow) Watson (Kevin) of Fountain Hills, AZ,  Brandon Burrow (Patty Winiecki) of Riverside, CA; Step-daughter Angela (Hawkins) Haywood (Mike) of McAlester, OK, Steven Lee Hawkins of Osceola, MO, Craig Neal Hawkins (Ardith) of Morrisville, MO;  grandchildren Jon Burrow, Chelsie (Ammann) Stoops, Carrie (Ammann) Witherspoon, Devin Burrow, Aspen (Burrow) Hill, Aja (Arruda) Shoup, Alyssa Hawkins, Kaitlyn (Hawkins) Wood, Kendra (Hawkins) Boonyakiti, Kyle Hawkins, Rebekah Hawkins, Ethan Hawkins, Alivia (Hawkins) Key, Taylor Hawkins, sisters-in-law Joyce (Bailey) Dantes (Ed),  Pam (Reynolds)Dutcher (Larry), Eleanor (Bailey) Masten, 18 great-grandchildren, loving nieces and nephews and cousins.