Kevin Lee "Corky" Burns

Kevin Lee “Corky” Burns died at the age of 78 of natural causes in his home in Ocean Springs, MS on September 3, 2015 where he had been well tended to by the angels of Hospice of Light. Corky was born on February 8, 1937 in Fort Riley, KS. He was the second son of Naomi and Colonel Fred M. Burns Sr. Army Ret. Corky was a military brat who spent his formative years living near Fort Dix, NJ and Fort Knox, KY. He and his older brother Fred, took advantage of their father’s military absence to beguile their trusting mother and live a life that Huckleberry Fin would have happily joined. They followed adventure rather than rules. Truancy lead them to the Marine Corps at very early ages. After his release from the Marine Corps he did a four year enlistment with the U.S. Air Force. Corky was a captivating story teller with a quick laugh and magnetic personality. He was a prankster who had no trouble making friends and rarely, if ever, lost one. After being honorably discharged from the Marine Corps and the Air Force he took up iron work – mostly welding - in Texas. Corky landed on the Texas coast in the mid 60’s. At this time he met Mary Lou. They were married and Corky helped raise two stepsons, Rudy and Joey, that he considered his own. Corky and Mary Lou moved to Elgin Texas in the early 70’s. He left to work on the Alaska pipeline in 1974. After Joey graduated from high school in 1976, Mary Lou left Texas to be with him. They made a life in Anchorage for 19 years. During this time, Corky worked on the pipeline until that played out. When it did he transitioned into the taxi cab business, first as a driver then as an owner. He regaled his passengers with lively stories and made friends with many travelers. Corky and Mary Lou moved to Ocean Springs Ms. to be near Corky’s mom and several siblings in the mid 90’s. He was an avid golfer and played at every opportunity while in Alaska and upon relocating to MS he worked/played at several local courses. Corky was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Lou; his parents; and his youngest brother, Brian. Corky is survived by his sons, Rudy (Sylvia) Miller and Joey (Janice) Miller; three grandchildren, Taryn (John), Warren and Joey Jr (Amanda); four great grandchildren, Emily, Hudson, Reagan and Colby; one sister, Barbara (Chuck) Burkhard of Ocean Springs, MS; three brothers, Fred M. Burns Jr, of Meridian, MS, Tom (Kaye) Burns of Nashville, TN and Pete (Renea) Burns of Mobile, AL. In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations to Hospice of Light, 2012 US-90, Gautier, MS 39553. (228) 497-2400 Private family memorial services will be held in Texas and Ocean Springs, Mississippi. The Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.