Carson S. Burns, 72, of Jackson passed away Sunday, June 21, 2009, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

He was born June 28, 1936, in Oakland, Miss., son of William H. and Pearl Pipkin Burns. He and Betty Pulliam were married Nov. 4, 1963, in Jackson.

Carson served two terms in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean conflict.

In 1961 Carson went to work at the GM assembly plant in St. Louis; in 1978 he transferred to the GM plant in Bowling Green, Ky., where he worked in the Corvette division. He retired from GM after 30 years of service.

Carson was a member of the American Legion Post 158 in Jackson. Carson had a passion and love for animals. He loved to feed and watch the birds and squirrels. He especially loved playing with his little red beagle, Princess.

Loving survivors include his wife of 45 years; four daughters, Brenda (Gary) Pender of Jackson, Linda (Kevin) Crader of Jackson, Debby (Curtis) Lorenz of Pocahontas, Terri Moore of Jackson; a son, John W. Burns of Delta; 11 grandchildren, Erica, Lori, Michael, Justin, Chad, Jessica, Nikki, Carly, Sydney, Jennifer and Jameson; and six great-grandchildren.

Also surviving are two sisters, Lula Beth Porter of Coffeyville, Miss., and Mattie Frances Latza of Satellite Beach, Fla.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, William, Milton and Lamar Burns; a sister, Minnie Burns; two grandchildren, Jeremy Pender and Vanessa Lorenz; and a son-in-law, Jeffrey J. Moore.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

The funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Sam Roethemeyer officiating. Interment will be in Russell Heights Cemetery with full military honors.

Memorials may be made to the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri or the American Lung Association.

Sympathy messages may be sent to the family by visiting McCombs Funeral Home website at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.