Ray Thomas Burns

Fairview ~ Ray Thomas Burns, 94, of Flat Top Mountain Road, died Sunday, February 1, 2004 at his residence. Born January 19, 1910 in Haywood County, Mr. Burns was a son of the late Manning and Lura Clontz Burns. He was also preceded in death by four brothers, three sisters and one grandson, Tim Briggs. Mr. Burns retired from Sayles Biltmore Bleachery in the shipping and receiving department. He was a member of Fairview Baptist Church, having served as church custodian for over twenty years. He was a member of the Men's Bible Class. Survivors include his wife of seventy-four years, Geneva Harkins Burns; seven daughters, Betty McFalls of Fairview, Martha Gilmer of Hendersonville, Carolyn Mackey, and her husband Ralph, of Hendersonville, Patsy Mackey, and her husband Don, of Fairview, Dorothy Warwick of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Linda Briggs, and her husband Jack, of Asheville and Sandra Harris, and her husband Steve, of Fairview; a brother, Lloyd J. Burns of Canton; 15 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren and 3 great great-grandchildren. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. He was a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather and brother. A funeral service will be conducted Wednesday at 2:00 PM at Fairview Baptist Church with Revs. Todd Royal, Steve Harris and Stacey Harris officiating. Interment will immediately follow in Cane Creek Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Tony Briggs, Doug Cauble, Randall Mackey, Eric Swann, Jerry Swann, Jr. and Adam McFalls. Honorary pallbearers will be Stacey Harris and Tommy McFalls. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 7:00 - 8:30 PM at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian on Long Shoals Road. Memorials may be made to Mountain Area Hospice, PO Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813 or to Fairview Baptist Church, PO Box 1339, Fairview, NC 28730 or to the building fund of Trinity of Fairview Baptist Church, PO Box 2040, Fairview, NC 28730.