Norman Neal Burns

Neal Burns, 82, of Waveland died peacefully at home on January 7, 2018. The cause of death was Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
Norman “Neal” Burns was born May 15th, 1935 in Oklahoma City, Ok to James Norman and Lorena Davis Burns. Neal went to so many schools he lost count, as the family followed his father, a skilled sheet metal worker around the country. When the family moved to Murray, KY in Neal’s junior year of high school, he decided to stay, and lived with the high school principal’s family so he could graduate from Murray High.
After High School, Neal was a member of the Oklahoma National Guard, and then served four years in the United States Army. While he was in the Army, he met the love of his life, Margaret “Mickey” Beyer of Bay St. Louis on a transcontinental flight. They married on April 19th, 1958 at Our Lady of the Gulf Roman Catholic Church. Neal graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a BS in Business Administration. He was a salesman and account executive for General Mills, working for the company his entire career.
Neal and Mickey retired to Bay St. Louis, and then to Waveland in the home they built together. Neal was a Boy Scout Troop Scoutmaster, and church volunteer everywhere he lived. He loved to cut the grass at the St. Augustine Seminary and at Our Lady of the Gulf. He was also a volunteer and member of the Bay Waveland Yacht Club.
Neal was preceded in death by wife Mickey in 2001, his parents, and his brother and sister in law Pete and Betty Benvenutti.
Neal is survived by his son Pat Burns, daughter in law Robin, and granddaughter Abigail of Bellville, TX; daughter Molly Burns and Tim Sanderlin of Waveland and his sister Jerrie Talaugon of Santa Maria, CA. He is also survived by nephews and nieces: Peter and Lise Benvenutti of Oakland, CA, Chuck Benvenutti, Stephen and Chelise Benvenutti, Mike and Mary Ann Benvenutti of Bay St. Louis, Mary Kay Benvenutti and Jerry Wicks of Waveland, Patrick Benvenutti of Bay St. Louis, MaryBeth Benvenutti of Walnut Creek, CA, Ned and Kitsy Benvenutti of Bay St. Louis, Keith Nicks of Jorden, MN, Gary Nicks of Rocklin, CA, Cindy Hardy of Paso Robles, CA and Tonya Williams of Orcutt, CA, as well as a large number of grandnieces, grandnephews and a generous circle of friends.
A Celebration of Life Mass will be held at St. Augustine Seminary in Bay St. Louis on Monday, January 15th at 11 a.m. Memorial contributions can be sent to Divine Word Missionaries, 1835 Waukegan Rd, Techny, Il, 60082.