Tim Striley
Our family and the world, just lost a great man. Burdette Anderson, my dear great-uncle. One of the members of the "Greatest Generation." He was a beloved husband, father, leader, and an incredible role-model. So many children knew him as a master Boy Scout. His fellow veterans worked with him for decades honoring the fallen and helping to care for those veterans returning home from all wars. He stayed involved in numerous organizations around town and nationally. He knew love and always had enough to share with everyone he met. I could find nobody that ever heard a foul word, hatred, or any negativity from his lips. A man of peace, honor, integrity, and of love unmatched. He took care of anyone and everyone. He welcomed me home from a war 20 years ago and always treated me as an equal though I can only hope to be a tiny fraction of the man that he was. Long ago, my grandfather got hurt and was in peril at the hospital, not long after I came home to Clinton. He was the only next of kin in town except me as other members of the family were are all of town. He drove to my home to get me and took me to the E.R. and told me I had to make a decision as to whether or not to resuscitate my grandfather. I wasn't sure of what to do and I asked his advice. He told me that he couldn't help me, that I had to reach deep into my heart and let it guide me. I did. Tough choice, but dear Burdette gave me a wonderful gift that day that I will take with me all of the days of my life: The courage to make painful decisions and to trust what my heart tells me.
You were one of a kind uncle Burdette and this world will never forget all that you gave to us. Part of you will live on in all of us whose lives you touched. Since I learned of your passing, a statement made by our former President, Ronald Reagan on January 28, 1986, has haunted my thoughts: Today, you "slipped the surly bonds of earth" to "touch the face of God."