Gloria Kelley Burns, a beautiful woman of seventy-two years died Sunday morning at 6:55 a.m., October 9, 2016, surrounded by her family.

Gloria was born September 19, 1944 in Hondo, TX to a well-known veterinarian, Dr. E. Lloyd Kelley and his wife, Yvonne McGarry Kelley. Gloria’s parents and her brother, Robert Lloyd Kelley, preceded her in death.

While attending Abilene Christian University where she was a member of the famous Wildcat Marching Band, Gloria met the love of her life, Jerry Wallace Burns, the son of a well-known evangelist, C.C. Burns and his wife Lena Cooke Burns of Alabama. They were married July 19, 1965 in Hondo, TX and recently celebrated their fifty-first anniversary.

Jerry and Gloria made their home in Florence, Alabama where their two children were born: Brian Kelley Burns and Julie Burns Droesch. Jerry was a minister and partner with brother, Charles Burns, in manufacturing Burns-Craft Yachts.

Gloria is survived by her husband Jerry, her son Brian and his wife Aimee and their children Ethan and Aidan. Gloria is also survived by her daughter Julie and her husband Patrick Droesch and their children Carson and Kendall, as well as her sisters in law Jill Kelley and Joyce Burns and her nieces and nephews Lisa Kelley Van Doren, Randy Burns, Sandy Burns Gamble and John Burns.

Arrangements are being made by Eastgate Funeral Home in Garland, TX. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Gloria’s name to:

Earl Young’s Team at www.earlyoungsteam.org to support blood cancer research and awareness, or to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation at www.bcrfcure.org to support breast cancer research and prevention.

A celebration of life service, honoring the life of Gloria Kelley Burns will be conducted at 2 p.m., Saturday, October 15, 2016 at the Preston Road Church of Christ in Dallas, TX, with a reception following.

Special thanks and appreciation from Gloria’s family to the Pacesetter’s Class at the Prestoncrest Church of Christ in Dallas for their generous contribution toward the funeral arrangements. The family is also deeply touched and appreciative of the generous gifts of time and inspiration given by the participants and staff of the Preston Road Church of Christ.