John Harvey Burrows

Memorial service for John Harvey Burrows will be 1 p.m., Wed., Dec. 17, at First Christian Church with Pastor Charles Ragland officiating. Visitation will be held at the funeral home Tues. 5-7 p.m.

John passed away Sat., Dec. 13, 2014, at his home at the age of 86.

The son of John Henry and Alice Mae (Donnell) Burrows was born April 10, 1928, in Dallas, TX. John graduated from Claremore High School in 1945, and went on to served in the U.S. Navy during WWII in the South Pacific. After his discharge he continued his education at Oklahoma State University where he graduated in 1951 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Business Administration, and was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. On June 29, 1952, John married Loretta Jean Hill at the First Baptist Church in Claremore.

John was the owner of Burrows & Burrows Insurance Agency in Claremore. He began his insurance career in 1957 after employment with Amerada and Gulf Oil companies. John was a member of both State and National Associations of Insurance Agents, and served on several committees for the Oklahoma state association. He also was the owner of commercial real estate which included the lease to the first Walmart in Oklahoma (currently Locke Suppy and Autozone in Claremore). He also developed Western Heights Housing Addition, the addition north of McDonald's.

John was an active and dedicated member of his community. He belonged to many organizations and held many offices within those organizations. He was the Past President and Chairman of Claremore Industrial Authority, Past President of Claremore Chamber of Commerce, Past President of United Way and Drive Chairman Assistant for 2 years, Past President of Rotary Club, Past President of Claremore High School Alums, Past President of OSU (Rogers County) Alums for 2 years, past member of OSU Executive Alumni Committee in Stillwater, original member of the Rogers State College Foundation, City-County Planning Commission, and Legislative Study Group, State of Oklahoma, member of Legislative Compensation Committe, State of Oklahoma, Elks Lodge, and American Legion, member and Past Chairman of J.M. Davis Commission (Gun Museum), member of first Rogers County Public Facalities Trust (Heritage Hills Golf Course), and he was a Paul Harris Fellow in Rotary. He was also a member of First Christian Church.

John was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Loretta; children: Beth Fletcher and husband, Wayne, and Dave Burrows and wife, Cindy; granddaughters: Sarah Barry and husband, Jordan, Abby Fletcher, Kory Coots and husband, Jerrad, and Kara Burrows; and great-granddaughters: Catherine Mae, Kohen, and Vanna.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, or Claremore Rotary Club to be used to end Polio.