Burnett Charlie James of Fairview, Texas, died at 9:17 a.m. on Monday, December 28, 2015, from natural causes. He was 90 years of age. Burnett was born on December 17, 1925 in Garvin, McCurtain County, Oklahoma. Burnett was the son of Jesse Albert James and Irene (Mills) Hopson. As a youth, he attended the Farmers Hill Country School in Garvin. Burnett later enrolled at the Jones Indian Academy, five miles northeast of Hartshorne, Oklahoma. He was a proud member of the Choctaw Nation. While attending Jones Academy, Burnett was drafted into the U.S. Army to fight in World War II. He was 18 years of age at the time. Burnett served in the 87th Division of the 365th Regiment, U.S Army Infantry, under the command of General George S. Patton. He was trained as a machine gunner. Burnett was shipped overseas in November of 1944. He served in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany. The 87th Division fought in the Battle of the Bulge, cracked the Siegfried Line, crossed the Rhine River, and captured the historic city of Koblenz, Germany. Burnett was a decorated war hero, receiving the Silver Star and Combat Infantry Badge for his bravery in the line of duty. He exemplified his division motto, “Stalwart and Strong.”
Upon returning home to Oklahoma after the war, in 1946, Burnett met Juanita June Steele, who lived next door to his mother and step-father, Joe Hopson. Burnett and Juanita were married in Wheeler, Texas the following year. They had two children. He worked as a truck driver for the Cudahy Meat Packing House for over 20 years. Burnett later worked 10 years at the Weyerhauser Paper Mill in Valiant, Oklahoma. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, and outdoorsman; and he crafted beautiful silver jewelry.
Burnett recently traveled to San Antonio, Texas, where he received the “French Legion of Honor” medal for his defense of France during World War II. Last week he received the Chahta Elder’s “Wisdom Blanket” from Gary Batton, Chief of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. The blanket was given as a token of respect and appreciation as an elder of the Tribe.
He is survived by his daughter, Linda Diane (James) Pittman and her husband, Larry of Edmond, Oklahoma; son, Terry Lawson James and his wife, Dorris of Fairview, Texas; nine grandchildren, Larry H. Pittman, Jr. , Shawn J. Pittman both of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Terre June (Pittman) Cumming of Edmond, Oklahoma, Jamie L. (James) O’Banion, Stacey M. (James) Mattinson, Garrett Lee James, Brett Weston James all of Dallas, Texas, Lindsey R. (James) Tanner of Carlsbad, California, and Grant Kendall James of Spanish Fork, Utah; eighteen great-grandchildren, Jesse Wayne Cossey, Jaxon Blake Cossey, Tyler Burnett Cossey, Alex Braden Cossey, Emmaline Faith Cossey, Anderson Hale Cossey, Noah Matthew James, John Asher James, Lawson Lee James, Capri Kendall James, Sierra Marie James, Summer Lorrine James, Benton James O’Banion, Aubrey Lynn O’Banion, Ava Grace O’Banion, Savannah Jane Tanner, Benjamin James Tanner, Evelyn June Tanner.
Burnett was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Juanita; and his parents.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 9, 2016 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 737 East Melissa Road, Melissa, Texas. Entombment will follow at Ridgeview Memorial Park in Allen, Texas. The family will receive friends during a visitation on Saturday afternoon, January 9, 2016 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the church.