Paul Herbert "Bud" Burns, 95, of Memphis, Missouri, died Saturday, December 27, 2014, at the Scotland County Care Center in Memphis. Bud was born February 2, 1919, in Schuyler County, Missouri, to Leslie Edwin and Ollie May Casteel Burns. He was raised on a farm near Glenwood, Missouri and attended country schools for eight years. He attended high school in Lancaster, Missouri and was a graduate of the class of 1936. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the United States Coast Guard. He married Martha Frances Morgan on January 3, 1945, at the Memphis Christian Church and to this union a son and daughter were born. Bud started harness racing in Scotland County and was instrumental in this sport in surrounding counties and as far away as Chicago. He and his father-in-law owned and operated Morgan & Burns Plumbing and Heating in Memphis. Later Bud and Martha owned and operated the Coast to Coast store in Memphis. In 1975, Bud and Martha moved to California where he worked as a millwright. Following his retirement at age 65, he enrolled in a lapidary class, learning to shape and polish stones which he used to make clocks, rings, slip ties and other items. They returned to Memphis in 2002. He was a member of the First Christian Church in Memphis. He was also a member of the Masonic Brotherhood Lodge #269 AF & AM, located in St. Joseph, Missouri; was a member of the Shriners and was a charter member of the Memphis Wallace G. Gillespie V.F.W. Post #4958. Bud was a volunteer fireman and a member of Rec Plex. Bud enjoyed visiting with friends and his greatest pleasure was spending time with his family. He is survived by his wife of nearly seventy years, Martha, of Memphis, Missouri; his son, Michael L. Burns and wife, Susan, of St. Charles, Missouri; a son-in-law, Norman Goucher, of Memphis, Missouri; three grandchildren: Brittany Nanneman and husband, Brad, of Ashland, Missouri; Brianne Burns of St. Charles, Missouri; Kristi Michele Peterson of Bellevue, Nebraska and six great grandchildren: Christian, Sascha, Gabriel, Reygan, Kyle and Jadyn of Bellevue, Nebraska. He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Marsha L. Goucher; a grandson, Kyle D. Peterson; two sisters: Beulah Payne and Bernice Hites and three brothers: Hobart Burns, Hubert Burns and Gerald Burns.