Thomas Leon Burress

ST. JOSEPH – Thomas Leon Burress, 60, of St. Joseph, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, February 2, 2007, at home. A service celebrating his life will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 6, at Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home in St. Joseph, with Rev. Thomas Batsky officating. Burial with military rites will follow in Riverview Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church or the Humane Society of Southwest Michigan. Notes of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.starks-menchinger.com. Tom was born on October 13, 1946, in Henderson, Tenn., to William and Ora (Mayfield) Burress. He graduated from Benton Harbor High School and obtained an associates degree from Lake Michigan College. He spent two years serving in the United States Army during which he was stationed in Korea. He was employed by Whirlpool Corporation for many years where he held a number of positions. He last served as a Senior Computer Technician before retiring in 2003. He was a dedicated and dependable employee who rarely missed work during his career. In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing, photography, and gardening. He was a fun, loving, and outgoing person who liked hugging people when he greeted them. He was always concerned about his family to be sure they were well cared for and deeply loved his grandchildren. He was a proud member of the Stevensville American Legion Post 568 and Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Joseph. Survivors include his wife, Janet Burress of St. Joseph; his daughter, Amy Purtha of Stevensville; his son in-law, Victor Purtha of Stevensville; his grandchildren, Dalton Thomas Purtha and Clara Marie Purtha; a brother, Charles Burress of Searcy, Ark.; a stepbrother, Johnny Burress of Nashville, Tenn.; and five nephews, Keith Burress, Tommy Burress, Timmy Burress, Chucky Burress, and Jamie Burress. He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant sister.