On most early summer mornings and evenings you could find my grandfather kneeling on his good knee, weeding various flowerbeds and other plants in the yard of the only home I recall visiting at the corner of 8th and Crittenden in Arkadelphia. It was from Granddaddy that I learned that a weed is just a plant growing somewhere you don't want it.

He dutifully and respectfully cruised all the food offerings on Decoration Day at St Joe Cemetery, not far from where he was born in Pope County, talking about the Burris family history with his elders and contemporaries alike. How I wish I had an hour with him now to discuss some of my Burris family history discoveries.

His obituary:

"George W. Burris, aged 83, of Arkadelphia, died Tuesday at Clark County Memorial Hospital. He served as a postal employee for 47 years and was an assistant postmaster 34 years. He entered the postal service in 1910 at Russellville as a clerk – his father was postmaster. In May 1920 he was appointed postal clerk for services in the Panama Canal Zone, where he served until resignation Aug., 1920. For a short while he was employed by an oil company in Columbia, South America. After his reinstatement Feb. 2, 1923 as a postal clerk he transferred to Arkadelphia and was assistant postmaster, starting in April of that year.

Mr. Burris served as officer at elections in Clark County, both locally and nationally.

He was born Oct. 5, 1890, at Atkins and was a member of the St. Joe Baptist Church there, where his father was a charter member.

Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Louise Herrington Burris; one son, Wm. F (Bill) Burris of Little Rock; three daughters, Mrs. HH Rutherford of Bryant, Mrs. JA Lensing and Mrs. Edward Newmann, both of Little Rock; one brother, Ott G Burris of Morrilton; one sister, Mrs. Emma Crites of Atkins; thirteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Funeral services will be held today (Thursday) at 2 p.m. in the Murry-Ruggles Funeral Home Chapel by Rev. Nathan Porter. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Eli Gary, Luther Southerland, Bro. JM Hamilton, Dave Lamb, Hershel Tweedle and all present and retired postal employees."

Granddaddy always wanted to be buried at St Joe, close to the land where he was born. A stone was placed in memory of that wish in St Joe Cemetery, between those of his parents, by his son and daughter-in-law, Bill and Maxx Burris, in June 2010.