Obituary of John Dean Burns

John Dean Burns of Gilman Bottom, WV John Dean Burns, 70, was born at home at Gilman Bottom, Davin, WV on January 8, 1951, and passed away Friday, July 23, 2021 in Hospice Care at CAMC,Charleston, WV. John graduated from Man High School in 1968, and worked for several years at Ford Motor Company in Detroit, Michigan. Returning to West Virginia, he worked as an exterminator, and later was self-employed doing drywall installation and finishing, and general carpentry work. John loved being in the mountains, hunting, or digging ginseng, and especially enjoyed finding vine covered limbs and saplings that he brought home and spent many hours finishing into canes and walking sticks. Accepted by Tamarack of Beckley, WV, as a juried artisan, these were sold there for many years as "Appalachian Walking Sticks by Johnny B". He also gifted many of them to family and close friends. John had a keen sense of humor, a quick wit, and a sweet tooth. He always wore a hat and had a nickname for everyone. He enjoyed classic rock music, and watching documentaries on Discovery and History channels. He could tell you what type tree anything made of wood came from, where that type tree grew, and its particular characteristics. John was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Andrew Burns and Opal Triplett Burns; sister Irene Fisher; and brother Thomas Harold Burns. He is survived by sisters, Barbara Brown and her husband, Earthel, of Claypool, Suzi Caldwell and her husband, Jerry, of Point Pleasant, and Sharron Jewell and her husband, James, of Gilman Bottom. Extended family includes his sister-in-law, Sammie Burns of Hazard, KY,; nieces, Cheryl Clark, Crystal Dickens, Kim Osborne, Kristi Miller, Shannon Brown, Shana Patterson, Jennifer Caldwell, Lauren Billiter, Errin Jewell, and Emily Johnston; and nephews Gary Fisher, Ernest Fisher, and his youngest nephew, Joshua Jewell, who credits his Uncle John with taking him hunting, and to always remember the importance of gun safety, and teaching him to drive a stick shift. He is also survived by his aunts, Glenna Wiley and Garnet Triplett, as well as many cousins, friends and neighbors. Friends may gather one hour prior to services in the Highland Memory Gardens Mausoleum Chapel at Godby. A service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, July 30, 2021, at Highland Memory Gardens Mausoleum Chapel with Rev. Roger Frye officiating. Per his wishes his remains have been cremated and will be interred next to his parents and brother Tom. Online condolences may be sent to www.krantzmcneelyfuneralhome.com Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Krantz-McNeely Funeral Home at Man.