James Lee Burgess Sr., 70, of Ripley passed away Tuesday, March 9, 2010, in Charleston after a very long and extensive illness.

He was a son of the late Vernon and Hazel Burgess and grew up in Handley, Kanawha County.

He attended East Bank High School and later became an Army veteran, enlisting at age 16 and was discharged in 1957.

James retired from Hartley Manufacturing in 1998, after being diagnosed with emphysema. He spent the remainder of his days enjoying his family and farm on Shatto Road, near Ripley, where he and his wife, Betty, continued raising their two children, James Lee Burgess Jr. and April Ann Burgess Mellinger. James was a strong worker who believed in truly earning everything one gets and being appreciative of the same. He was an accomplished and dedicated farmer on Shatto Road, where he aided in the family cattle and hay business until the time of his death.

In addition to his farming, James enjoyed tinkering around the home and being outside. He was a fan of sports in general and scratch-off lottery tickets.

James was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather, and helped give all that he had in making everyone else a better person. Additionally, James was a genuine good person who would do most anything for most anyone. He was a Christian and attended Shatto Road Tabernacle, near Ripley.

James was preceded in death by his parents and several siblings: brothers, Clarence and Charles Burgess; and sisters, Margaret Bennett and Marjory May.

In addition to his wife, Betty (Wright) Burgess, James is survived by his sister and her husband, Maxine and Frank Brown of Montgomery; a brother and his wife, Michael and Robin Burgess of Spencer; son and his wife, James Jr. and Amanda Burgess of Ripley; and daughter and her husband, April and Ross Mellinger of Ravenswood. Additionally, he is survived by numerous grandchildren including, Jade Burgess of Cottageville, Kodi and Levi Burgess of Ripley, and Peyton, Ashley, Katie and Logan Mellinger, all of Ravenswood.

Services for James Burgess will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 12, at Waybright Funeral Home, Ripley, with Pastor Joe Keefer presiding. Burial will be in Jackson County Memorial Gardens, Cottageville.

Viewing will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

James Lee Burgess Sr., 70, of Ripley passed away Tuesday, March 9, 2010, in Charleston after a very long and extensive illness.

He was a son of the late Vernon and Hazel Burgess and grew up in Handley, Kanawha County.

He attended East Bank High School and later became an Army veteran, enlisting at age 16 and was discharged in 1957.

James retired from Hartley Manufacturing in 1998, after being diagnosed with emphysema. He spent the remainder of his days enjoying his family and farm on Shatto Road, near Ripley, where he and his wife, Betty, continued raising their two children, James Lee Burgess Jr. and April Ann Burgess Mellinger. James was a strong worker who believed in truly earning everything one gets and being appreciative of the same. He was an accomplished and dedicated farmer on Shatto Road, where he aided in the family cattle and hay business until the time of his death.

In addition to his farming, James enjoyed tinkering around the home and being outside. He was a fan of sports in general and scratch-off lottery tickets.

James was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather, and helped give all that he had in making everyone else a better person. Additionally, James was a genuine good person who would do most anything for most anyone. He was a Christian and attended Shatto Road Tabernacle, near Ripley.

James was preceded in death by his parents and several siblings: brothers, Clarence and Charles Burgess; and sisters, Margaret Bennett and Marjory May.

In addition to his wife, Betty (Wright) Burgess, James is survived by his sister and her husband, Maxine and Frank Brown of Montgomery; a brother and his wife, Michael and Robin Burgess of Spencer; son and his wife, James Jr. and Amanda Burgess of Ripley; and daughter and her husband, April and Ross Mellinger of Ravenswood. Additionally, he is survived by numerous grandchildren including, Jade Burgess of Cottageville, Kodi and Levi Burgess of Ripley, and Peyton, Ashley, Katie and Logan Mellinger, all of Ravenswood.

Services for James Burgess will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 12, at Waybright Funeral Home, Ripley, with Pastor Joe Keefer presiding. Burial will be in Jackson County Memorial Gardens, Cottageville.

Viewing will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.