SIKESTON -- The Rev. Robert Gene "Bob" Burnes, 73, died at 5:20 p.m. April 20, 2006, at Clearview Nursing Center.
Born March 4, 1933, in Union City, Tenn., son of the late Robert and Lillie Neisler Burnes, he lived most of his life in Sikeston where he worked in housekeeping at Missouri Delta Medical Center and was a foster grandparent with Sikeston Public Schools. In 1962, he became a Baptist minister and served as pastor for House of Prayer General Baptist Church for the past 16 years.
On July 4, 1981, in Sikeston, he married Mildred "Millie" Garrison Forrester who survives of the home.
Other survivors include: six sons and three daughters-in-law, Steve Burnes of New Madrid, Bobby and Teresa Burnes of Marston, David and DeeDee Burnes of Sikeston, Moe Forrester of St. Louis, Mark and Paige VanBrook of Walnut Ridge, Ark., and Stacy Forrester of Essex; three daughters, Brenda King and Anita "Skeeter" Forrester of Sikeston and Virginia Akers of St. Louis; three sisters, Betty Ann Ashby, Nelda Burnes and Katherine Juergens of St. Louis; and 30 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, one son, one daughter, one brother and one grandson also preceded him in death.
Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Blanchard Funeral Chapel. Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday at the House of Prayer General Baptist Church at Grant City with the Rev. Corra Edwards, associate pastor, officiating assisted by the Rev. Scott Sutton, pastor of the New Life Assembly Church in New Madrid.
Burial will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery at Charleston.
Pallbearers will be: Stacy Forrester, Steve Burnes, Mark VanBrook, Anita Forrester, Matthew Nosser and Cindy Phelps.
Honorary pallbearers will be: Andrew VanBrook, Christopher VanBrook, Edwin King, Scott Sutton, Allen Rhyne and Brenda King.