Ludene Burns

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Ludene Burns, 80, died Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018, at her home near Sikeston.

She was born Oct. 18, 1937, at Selmer, Tennessee, to the late Hubert and Virlon Wyatt Cooksey.

She was a member of Diehlstadt General Baptist Church in Diehlstadt, Missouri, and had been a lifelong resident of Jackson and Sikeston.

On Aug. 19, 1953, she was married to Howard Thomas Burns Sr. in Sikeston, and he preceded her in death Jan. 16, 2014.

She is survived by four sons, Howard T. Burns Jr. of Sandwich, Illinois, Dennis W. (Terry) Burns of Matthews, Missouri, James S. "Bo" (Laurie) Burns of Gordonville and Randal Rowdy (Amy) Burns of Sikeston; three daughters, Diann (Rick) Knight of Oak Ridge, Donna (Larry) Tucker of Sikeston and Tammy (Mike) Hampton of Sikeston; a daughter-in-law, Debbie Burns of Lake Holiday, Illinois; and a foster daughter, Melissa Diakite of Sikeston. Other survivors include two brothers, Carley and Harley Cooksey, both of Matthews, and a sister, Doris Graham of Sikeston. Nineteen grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren also survive.

Two sisters, Charlene Burns and Christine Beeson, preceded her in death.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Diehlstadt General Baptist Church.

Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the chruch. The Rev. Dwayne Kirkpatrick, the pastor, will officiate, and burial will follow at Garden of Memories Cemetery in Sikeston.

Pallbearers will be Brandon Tucker, Brian Burns, Richie Knight, Guage Heady, Ashley Burns and Garrett Dodge. Honorary pallbearers will be Jeremy Grither, Keith Lawson, Jimmy Sievers and Zach Bowers.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.blanchardfuneral.com.

Blanchard Funeral Chapel in Sikeston is in charge of arrangements.