Doyle Eldon Burns

Doyle Eldon Burns

January 29, 1920 ~ September 4, 2014

Doyle Burns, 94, of Montrose, CO, passed away on September 4, 2014.     Doyle was born January 29, 1920, in Geary, OK, to the late Roy and Blanche (Deweese) Burns, the middle of eleven children.  He graduated from Geary High School in 1938 and attended one “miserable and unremarkable” semester at Oklahoma A & M before returning to the family farm, declaring that he’d learned everything he needed to know.  The importance of education became more apparent to Doyle later, however, and when the time came, he would insist each of his children required at least the full four years of college.

Doyle was a husband, father, farmer, rancher, promoter of potatoes, and storyteller extraordinaire.  He married Gladys Ball in August 1939 in Kingfisher, OK, and they began their own farming and cattle operation soon after in Blaine County. near his family’s farm. In 1954 they, with their four children, moved from Oklahoma to Colorado where he was foreman, then manager of the 87,000-acre Blanca Trinchera Ranch at Ft. Garland.  In 1960, the family moved to Monte Vista, CO, where Doyle was manager of the San Luis Valley Potato Administrative Committee for several years before becoming the Executive Director of the National Potato Council (1964-1978) in Washington, DC, and Denver.  Whether making one of his many speeches to potato growers, or in conversation with friends and family, Doyle could always come up with a good story–to make a point, or, just as likely, to make a joke. His Oklahoma roots were often reflected in his stories and writings, as was his assumed nickname, Pore Okie. He leaves a collection of his observations, sayings, and humor that over the years have come to be known affectionately as Doylisms.

Gladys passed away in 1974.  He and Joan MacIntyre married in 1976, and when they both retired from the National Potato Council, they chose Montrose as home, becoming longtime residents. Joan predeceased Doyle in 2009.

Doyle is survived by his children and their families:  Karen (Bill) Stoner of Ashburn, Va, Sharen (Jim) Branscome of Montrose,CO, Sam (Kathy) Burns of Phoenix, AZ and Dan (Karla) Burns of Monte Vista, CO; seven grandchildren:  Nicole Stoner, Chris Stoner, Stacey Burns, Tamara (Burns) Hunter, Tyler Burns, Kyle Burns and Whitney Burns; two great grandchildren, Thiery Jones and Noah Stoner; a brother, Nelson Burns of Geary, OK, and a sister, Rosemary Davis of LaVeta, CO; also, by Joan’s children,  Don MacIntyre, Vicki MacIntyre and  Margo (MacIntyre) Flaherty.

Doyle was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Montrose.  Burial with graveside services will be at the Watonga, OK, IOOF Cemetery.  Arrangements are under the direction of the Crippin Funeral Home in Montrose, CO.

            Condolences and remembrances can be sent to the family in care of the Crippin Funeral Home at www.crippinfuneralhome.com.  In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory can be made to the Doyle E. Burns Scholarship Fund at Colorado Mesa University, Montrose Campus, 234 South Cascade Avenue, Montrose, CO 81401.