Jack Burnham

Jack W. Burnham was born January 18, 1927, in the Shaw Bend Community of San Saba, Texas, and died Friday morning, October 13, 2023, at his home, Cleburne Texas. Jack was 96 years old. He was the youngest son of nine children of Theodore J. Burnham and Mary Elizabeth Goode of San Saba, Texas. Jack was a graduate of San Saba High School in 1945 and attended Southwestern University in 1947. After graduation, Jack married Clara “Jonell” Burnham on June 11, 1948. The newlywed couple spent their first summer together following the wheat harvest from Texas to South Dakota. In addition to other farming and ranching work in San Saba throughout the first few years of their marriage, Jack with crew, trucks, and combines continued to follow the wheat harvest for several summers with his wife Jonell as the crew cook.

Jack and Jonell continued farming and ranching and made their home in San Saba, Texas from 1948 - 1964 where they had 3 children: Mary, Peggy, and Dale. In 1964, Jack and Jonell relocated the family to Cleburne, Texas, where Jack, with Jonell at his side, engaged in self employment – their last and favorite venture of 20 years was owner/operators of the Western Auto/Ace Hardware Associate Store at 111 South Main in Cleburne.

Surviving are Jack's children: Peggy Lynn Shimp and husband, Steve, and son, Ryan Shimp, all of Ponca City, OK; Dale W. Burnham of Cleburne, and son, Eric Burnham, of Ft. Worth, TX. Jack's grandchildren: Matt Burton of Lubbock, TX; Ross Hayden and wife, Jennifer, and son Collin of Topeka, KS; Phil Hayden and wife, Lelia, and son Finley of Topeka, KS; Mary Elizabeth and husband, Alan Durham, and sons, Hayden and Owen, of Leawood, KS.

Jack devoted his life in love and providing for his family, his spouse and their businesses. He had a strong love of God and lived his faith in love and service to others. Jack loved sports, and particularly the Dallas Cowboys. He enjoyed watching the games with family and friends, and always had a good laugh saying that the Cowboys were going “all the way this year”.

Jack's loss will be great, but his love of family and children will endure in his children and grandchildren.

Please send donations in memory of Jack W. Burnham to the First Baptist Church Children's Ministry of San Saba, TX, at 208 W. Wallace Street, San Saba, TX 76877

Service will be 1:00 P.M., Monday, October 23, 2023, First Baptist Church San Saba, Burial will follow in Shaw Bend Cemetery.