Scotland County Genealogy Society
Memphis, MissouriMyrtle E. Burrus, at the age of 97 years, 6 months and 6 days the last surviving member of the 11 children of Andrew J. and Agnes Pruitt Roberts, departed this life on Tuesday, September 18, 1984, at the Grim-Smith Hospital, Kirksville, Missouri. Myrtle Ellen Roberts was born March 12, 1887, at Brunswick, Chariton County, Missouri.
When a small child, she lived in Adair County, attending elementary school at Willmathsville. Later her parents moved to Scotland County where she finished her elementary schooling and earned a scholarship for one year of study at the Kirksville Normal School, presently Northeast Missouri State University.
She taught four terms of school, one year each at Hoop Pole and Blue Grass in Scotland County, one at Meadow Brook in Knox County and one at Hazel Green in Adair County.
On March 7, 1911, at Memphis, Missouri, she married William Don Burrus. To this union seven daughters and one son were born. All eight children were born in the house where the couple made their first home, two miles east of Bible Grove on the farm presently owned by their son, Richard.
On January 27, 1930, Don and Myrtle together with their seven surviving children moved to the farm they had purchased from John Talbot. This is on Highway 15 just north of Route T and is presently the home of their oldest daughter, Irma.
On June 17, 1936, Don departed this life. Myrtle remained on the farm until December 1944 when she moved to Greensburg where she resided until October 9, 1975, when she gave up housekeeping and made her home with her only son, Richard and his wife Norma. With the exception of 25 months in the home of her daughter, Irma, Myrtle has spent the last nine years on the farm where she spent the first 19 years with her husband, Don.
Her maternal great-grandparents, Tyre and Angnes Stice March were Charter members of the Bible Grove Christian Church, the oldest church in Scotland County.
When she was 15 years of age, Myrtle
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remained faithful throughout her life, attending services regularly until the Sunday morning that she was rushed to the hospital. For years she taught the adult class at Sunday School of the Greensburg Christian Church. She was always willing to help others in need and felt that each should use his special talent. She faithfully read the Scriptures and knew Bible truths. A hardworking wife and Mother she found time to read and encourage her family to whet their minds. She fondly recalled hearing the Silver Tongued Orator, William Jennings Bryan speak at a Chautaugua in Memphis in the summer of 1907.
In addition to rearing her own children, Mrs. Burrus helped to rear a granddaughter, Wanda Parrish for ten years and three grandsons, Eugene, Don and Patrick Kennedy for four years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Don in 1936; her two youngest daughters, an infant daughter, Velna Faye in 1925; and daughter, Ina Kennedy Hall in 1981; a grandson, Richard Don Kennedy in 1964; five sisters, Lucy Roberts in 1888, Rosetta Sweet in 1908, Alpha Stone Slocum in 1966, Addie Wright in 1972, and Mae Meador in 1980; five brothers, Claude in 1889, William in 1908, Clarence in 1930, John in 1945 and Oscar in 1964.
Surviving are five daughters, Mrs. Leland (Irma) McRobert, Memphis, Mrs. Harry (Virginia) Kirkpatrick, Baring, Mrs. Harold (Agnes) Robinson, Memphis, Mrs. Carl (Iris) Ott, El Centro, California and Mrs. Glen (Donna) Doty, Baring; one son, Richard and his wife, Norma of Baring; two sons-in-laws, Harry Kirkpatrick and Glen Doty; together with fifteen grandchildren and twenty-one great-grandchildren. The Bible says Barnabas was a good man. In the estimation of her friends and family, Myrtle Burrus was a good woman.
Funeral services were held 2:00 p.m., Friday, September 21, 1984, in the Hudson-Rimer Funeral Chapel in Edina. The Rev. Harold Shelton of Luray officiated. Music provided by Karen Stone, the selections "How Great Thou Art" and "Beyond The Sunset," accompanied by Helen Anderson organist. Pallbearers were Don Burrus, Dan Burrus, L. M. McRoberts, William P. McRobert, Eugene Kennedy, and Patrick Kennedy. Burial was in the Greensburg Cemetery at Greensburg, Missouri.
