Obituary of Lee Roy Burnett

Roy Burnett was a loving father, brother, and step-father. He was a gentle, caring man who would do anything to help those he loved. He was born on January 15, 1924 in Rifle, CO. He died March 7, 2016 in Sacramento, CA. He was the oldest child and only son of Grant and Roberta Jamison Burnett. He was a 1942 graduate of Marysville, High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving 24 years and was a veteran of WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, serving on 8 ships. He would rotate to duty ashore usually as an instructor in the service schools and he would attend college classes in off-duty hours in pursuit of a degree in Electrical Engineering. On his ship, the U.S. Oakland, which was decommissioned, he was the last man aboard as he shut down the electrical on that ship. Roy was an avid reader and loved movies. After his retirement, he began writing books. His first commercial published efforts were realized during his first year at Yuba College when his accounts of the local football games ended up being the lead headline story on the front page of the daily city newspaper. He lived many years in San Diego, CA and after the death of his second wife, he moved back to Marysville, CA to be near his parents. He became involved in the 1942 class reunions of Marysville High. Survivors include his son Roy J and Brenda Briggs Burnett of MO; his grandson Herbert Burnett and other grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; his sisters Cherie Burnett of Marysville, CA and Gloria Montoya of Olivehurst, CA; and many nieces and nephews. Roy was preceded in death by his parents; his wives, Thelma Davis and Edna Bianchi; and sisters Betty Deblasio of NY and Charlene Malia of Sacramento, CA. Services will be held at Sierra View Mortuary on March 16, 2016 at 1:00 pm. Interment will be in San Diego, CA at Greenwood Memorial Park in San Diego.