Gary Keith
Burris, died on Saturday, March 29, 2008. He was born on April 16, 1940, in
Russellville, AR, to Earl and Lois Burris, both now deceased.
Gary is survived by his wife, S. Kaay Burris of Little Rock. His siblings are
a brother, Jack (Dorothy) of Russellville; three sisters—Earlene Webb of
Russellville; Anna Rylee (Dee) of Rogers; and Linda McBride (Bob) of
Fayetteville. His children are Bert Burris (Melissa) of Roland; Rebecca Leigh
Burris and Sherry Beth Thompson (Victor), both of Jonesborough, TN; and
Jennifer Ware of Memphis, TN. His grandchildren are Merry Thompson, Emma
Thompson, and Milly Thompson of Jonesborough, TN, and Hailey Burris, David
Burris, and Hardin Burris of Roland. The family also includes many nieces and
nephews.
Gary Burris graduated from Arkansas Tech University with a degree in
accounting and began his accounting career with Peat Marwick (KPMG
International) in Little Rock and Houston. From 1973-2000 he was a partner in
the accounting firm Rasco, Burris and Winter, and later founded and owned
Burris & Company, Accountants and Consultants, P.A. He loved his work and
especially enjoyed civic and church activities. A member of Pulaski Heights
United Methodist Church, he loved the Fathomers Sunday School Class and
Noah’s of Ark Walk to Emmaus. Gary and Kaay worked in many Walks in the last
10 years and Gary served as Lay Director of Walk 129 in 2007. Deeply dedicated
to his community and involved in volunteer activity, Gary was chairman of the
board of LifeQuest of Arkansas; board member of Museum of Discovery; president
of Central Arkansas Executives Association; chair of Pulaski County Council on
Aging; chair of Visiting Nurses Association; and chairman of Elderly Housing
Board, among many other civic contributions.
Gary was very active in the accounting profession and held numerous offices in
his professional organizations. As a member of the American Institute of CPAs
and Arkansas Society of CPAs, he served the Society on the Board of Directors
and as Vice President and President of the Central Arkansas Chapter; as
Chairman of the Peer Review Committee, Long Range Planning Committee, Meetings
Committee, and Continuing Professional Education Committee; and as member of
the Committees of Membership and Legislation. Gary also served on the Board of
Directors of the National Association of Accountants. In 1997, he was awarded
the ASCPA Public Service Award.
Gary was well known for his quick mind, keen sense of humor (which he often
turned on himself), and warm personality. He loved his family and especially
enjoyed two longstanding, annual Burris family gatherings, the Summer Retreat
and Winter Holiday Retreat, where it was a rule that if you missed a retreat,
everyone would talk about you.
The family extends deep appreciation to Gary’s excellent medical team, led
by Dr. John Ransom and the nurses and staff of the CVICU at Baptist Medical
Center. They gave loving care to Gary and Kaay throughout his illness.
Funeral services on Tuesday, April 1, at 2:00 p.m., will be led by Rev.Victor
H. Nixon at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, 4823 Woodlawn Ave.,
Little Rock. Ruebel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements,
www.ruebelfuneralhome.com
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to Pulaski Heights
United Methodist Church, 4823 Woodlawn Ave., Little Rock, AR 72205; Noah’s
of Ark Walk to Emmaus, 589 Meeks Loop, Hot Springs, AR 71913; or LifeQuest of
Arkansas, P.O. Box 251615, Little Rock, AR 72205.