Jim Burton, age 92, of Howe, Texas, formerly of McKinney, Texas, passed away November 30, 2025. Jim was born April 20, 1933, in Wichita, Kansas, to Arch Leroy and Georgie Alberta (Sapp) Burton. He married Patty Kemper on May 16, 1959. She preceded him in death in 1993. Jim later married Karen Owens on October 17, 2000.
With God and family as the focus of his whole life, Jim Burton lived a life of honesty, humility, grit, and joy. As a young man, Jim had big dreams of being a professional baseball player, which he realized when he was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals when he was just 19 years old. However, less than a year later, he was drafted by the U. S. Army who needed him to help occupy Germany after the Korean War. Disappointed not to pursue his career with the Cardinals, Jim thrived in the Army by playing on the baseball team that entertained the troops. He finished his time in the Army and returned home to work on his college degree in business. Jim was driven to be an entrepreneur, so while he worked for the IRS as a young man, he later worked as a forecaster for Pizza Hut and then owned several of his own stores in the North Dallas area. He built his family to be centered around Jesus and the church. He taught his daughters to be faithful to Jesus, independent thinkers, strong in character, and have a solid work ethic. Throughout his life, Jim faced many obstacles, but none that could turn him away from God or family. He remained kind, thankful, and always had a naturally sweet spirit.
He is survived by his wife, Karen Burton of Howe, Texas; daughters, Wendy Long and husband Lin of Gunter, Texas, Carrie Jackson and husband, Scott of Allen, Texas, and Stacy Hurst and husband, Bob of Athens, Texas; grandsons, Matthew Hurst and wife, Brae also of Athens, Kaleb Hurst and wife, Bri of Loveland, Colorado, and Chris Cummins of Portland, Oregon; great-grandchildren, Summit Hurst, Hood Hurst, and Willa Hurst; sister-in-law, Janet Burton of Arizona; nephews, John Burton and wife, Kim also of Arizona, and Jerry Burton and wife, Laurie of Watauga, Texas; Karen’s children, Jennifer Zimbro and husband, Robert of Howe, Texas and Geoff Owens and wife, Audrey of Frisco, Texas; Karen’s granddaughters, Brittany Caruso and husband, Nick of Howe, Texas and Morgan Zimbro of McKinney, Texas; and numerous other loving relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his grandson, James “Jim” Duvall Cummins, and brother, Jack Burton.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, December 4, 2025, at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Chapel, 2525 Central Expwy. North, Allen, Texas, 75013. The family will receive friends during a visitation from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at the funeral home. Interment will take place at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, December 6, 2025 at Old Mission Cemetery in Wichita, Kansas.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation in memory of Jim’s grandson.