O. Marvin Burris

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Otha Marvin Burris was born at home in Strasburg, Missouri on August 3, 1921. He was third of four children, all boys, born to Otha Elzy and Amanda (Beasley) Burris. Marvin spent the first 9 years in the Strasburg school system and attended East Lynne High School the last 3 years, graduating in 1939. He was a member of Strasburg Baptist Church as a child. He attended Brown Mackie Business College in Kansas City, Kansas after graduation from high school. Marvin and Hazel Lorene Stair were married on February 7, 1942. The same day Marvin and Hazel were married Marvin joined the Navy. He was in the Navy in Kansas City, Kansas, and later in Olathe, Kansas when the Naval Air Station was built. He was a Yeoman, rising to Petty Officer first class by the time he was discharged in 1945. While in the service, he was also stationed in Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, St. Simons Island, GA, and aboard an aircraft carrier in the Pacific. Marvins ship participated in the Okinawa invasion and his crew was one of the first to go ashore in Nagasaki after the Japanese surrender.
Marvin, Hazel, and their children moved to Harrisonville in 1952 where Marvin became part owner of the local Ford dealership, which he later purchased in total from Bart Henderson. Marvin Burris Ford Sales was the Ford, Mercury and Lincoln dealership for over 20 years. Prior to moving to Harrisonville, Marvin was Truck and Fleet Sales manager for Ford Motor Company in Kansas City, Missouri.
Marvin was very involved in the Harrisonville community serving on the Harrisonville School Board, a founder and board member of the Twin Pines County Club, a member of the Cass Masonic Lodge #147, the VFW and the American Legion. Marvin spearheaded the Harrisonville Appreciation Day that was organized by a group of local businessmen in the 1970s who provided entertainment, festivities and a bar-b-que for the citizens of Harrisonville to show appreciation for their support of Harrisonville businesses.
Marvin retired and sold his Ford dealership in 1977 to G.R. Milner. In his retirement, he earned his real estate license and spent 10 years with Consolidated Realtors. He was also a Director of Citizens Bank of Harrisonville (later Commerce Bank) for 20 years. His hobby and love was his farm on Highway 7 where he raised cattle, bailed hay and spent time with his grandchildren fishing, walking the pastures and enjoying the beauty of the land.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his three brothers, Austin, Elzy and Nelson. He is survived by his wife, Hazel; a son, Gary Marvin Burris and his wife, Gail, of Manning, South Carolina; a daughter, Connie Sue Hodges and her husband, Bill, of Jacksonville, Florida; four grandsons, Greg, Garrett, David, and Mark; a great-granddaughter, Katelyn.
Funeral services were held Monday, December 4, 2006 at the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville with burial in the Orient Cemetery, Harrisonville.