James Odell Burden, 71, of Leonard, died at his home on May 27, 2020.

James was born on September 3, 1948, in Leonard, TX, to Clarence & Bonnie Mae (Hopper) Burden. He was the youngest of 10 kids born to Clarence and Bonnie.

He attended Trenton schools and graduated from Trenton High School in 1967. He served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War from 1968-1972.

After the war, he worked for Austin Paving and then went to work for the City of Sherman in 1974. He began as a laborer, then sewer truck operator, meter shop, lift station maintenance, then the Utilities Maintenance Superintendent.

James married Linda Joyce (Darst) Burden on July 6, 1976. They had two children: son Sean and daughter Christy. He graduated from Grayson County College in 1977 with an Associates Degree in Drafting. He served as President of the Texoma Land Water Utilities Association and was voted Person of the Year in 1988.

James retired from the City of Sherman in 1995 and moved to Pottsboro to begin a new adventure as a Striper Guide on Lake Texoma. He also worked as an equipment operator installing septic systems. In 2006, he moved to Leonard to live with his son in law and daughter.

He loved to hunt and fish and would not pass up a chance to be outdoors. He and his best friend, George Kalmon, enjoyed going fishing every chance they had.

James loved his wife and kids very much, but his greatest joy was becoming a grandfather. His two grandsons, JT Flanagan & Koen Burden love their “papa”.

James was preceded in death by his parents Clarence and Bonnie Burden and five of his siblings: Paula Jean Johnson, CB Burden, William Henry Burden, Dollie Rae Hall, and Alma Ruth Boles.

He is survived by his wife, Linda (Darst) Burden of Leonard, his son and daughter in law Sean & Denise Burden of Denison, his son in law and daughter Craig & Christy Flanagan of Leonard, two grandsons JT Flanagan of Leonard and Koen Burden of Denison, brother Bobby Burden of Little Rock, sister Mary Jernigan of Goldthwaite, sister Julia Shaw of Honey Grove, and brother in law and sister Blanton and Martha Hancock of Leonard and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation for James Burden will be Sunday May 31,2020 at 2pm and his funeral at 3pm, both at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow in Leonard. Burial will follow in Fuller Cemetery (CR 5025) Leonard. Leann’s Southern Charm is handling the floral arrangements. Donations may be made to the Leonard Volunteer Fire Department c/o Watson Bros PO Box 1169 Leonard TX 75452.

Pallbearers are his nephews Kirby Burden, Lloyd Burden, Tim Hancock, Cody Hancock, Travis Hancock and Ethan Hancock.