Gene Thomas Burney

Gene Thomas Burney passed away peacefully in his sleep on May 18, 2023.

Gene was born May 29, 1938 in Brownsville, Texas to Thomas and Aralia Burney and three-year-old sister Doris. The family moved around to different places, from job to job. His siblings Joe, Steve and Maxine were born into the family along the way and their growing family eventually settled in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Gene attended school in Albuquerque through the ninth grade when his father was in an accident and broke his back. Gene had to quit school and help support the family. He got a union job through Operating Engineers working at JD Shotwell. He worked on a number of different jobs, one of the jobs he landed was in Flagstaff, Arizona. This is where he met and fell in love with Sharon Rogers. They were married in June of 1960. They settled in Quincy, Washington where they started their family. Thomas was born in 1961. After losing a son at birth, David they welcomed their son Randy in 1965. In 1969 they moved their family to Sandpoint, Idaho. He then began working for Kuney Construction. He was a master mechanic. He worked on jobs like the Libby Dam, Safeco Field and Snoqualmie Pass. Him and Sharon were divorced in 1976 but they always remained friends. Gene later married Catherine Norris and she had four children: Brenda, Leroy, Debbie, and Steve and they lived in Spokane, Washington. Gene retired in 1998 and they moved to Clarkston, Washington where they lived until Catherine passed away from breast cancer. Gene then moved to Bonners Ferry, Idaho to be closer to his boys. Gene enjoyed his retirement; camping, fishing, 4wheeling and spending time with family.

He is survived by his sons, Thomas (Stacy) Burney and Randy (Kristie) Burney; step children, Brenda Norris, Leroy Norris, and Debbie Norris, plus numerous loving grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Steve (Charlene) Burney, and sister Maxine (Bob) Ramey, as well as several nieces and nephews. He is proceeded in death by his wife, Catherine Burney; former wife/ friend, Sharon Burney; son, David Burney; step-son, Steve Norris; grandson, Dustin Dodge; parents, Thomas and Aralia Burney; brother, Joe Burney; sister, Doris Kernodle; and brother-in-law, Stratton Kernodle.

There will be a memorial and celebration of life this summer to be announced at a later date.