Ronald Burns

Ronald L. Burns, age 67, of Backus, passed away at his home on Christmas morning. He is now celebrating Christ's birthday with his Lord and Savior.

Ron was born in Placerville, California, on August 22, 1949, and was raised in Boonville, Calif. He met his wife, Lee, at Chico University in 1967 and they were married December 1968. He was very active in his church with music and teaching. Ron loved nothing better than to be with friends and family, celebrating, witnessing and supporting. He loved to spend time with his grandchildren and was always helping his children and friends.

In his lifetime he was a sheep rancher, farmer, teacher, group home administrator and program coordinator. Ron and Lee owned and operated a children's group home for emotionally disturbed children for five years. For the past 20 years they have run a small group home in Backus for disabled adults.

Ron is survived by his wife, Lee; daughter, Heather Lee Schmidtke (Mark); sons: Ronald Paul Burns (Melanie), Isaac Lee Burns (Stephanie), Nathan Lee Burns (Missy), Clayton Joel Burns (Dustin); father, Paul Revere Burns; sisters: Paula Heron (John) and Loyce Banta, both of California. He has seventeen grandchildren that made his life a joy and many nieces and nephews that will miss him.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Marie.

The service of joy and remembrance will be held at 2 PM on Sunday, January 1, at the Backus WOW Church of the Nazarene.