- Date Of Birth: September 4, 1934
- Date Of Death: February 22, 2013
- State: Illinois
Travis Grady Burel, 78, of Davis, died unexpectedly at home on Friday, February 22, 2013. Born September 4, 1934, in Atlanta, Georgia, he was the son of Thomas Grady and Cynthia (Williams) Burel. On November 21, 1956, he married Carol E. Jensen in Atlanta, Georgia. She preceded him in death on April 16, 2012.
Travis was a 1952 graduate of Henry W. Grady High School in Atlanta, Georgia. Following his graduation, Travis enlisted in the United States Navy and served from September 3, 1952, to August 23, 1955, during the Korean War. He was assigned to the U.S.S. Chevalier Destroyer as a Radio Operator.
In 1960, Travis received his Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. He worked for the Aerospace Division of Honeywell Corporation in St. Petersburg, Florida, from 1962 to 1977, making his home in Largo, Florida. While working full time, he also pursued an Accounting Degree and became a CPA. In 1977, Travis moved his family to Davis, Illinois, when he began working for Micro Switch, a Division of Honeywell, in Freeport, where he worked until his retirement at the end of 1993.
Travis enjoyed bowling, golf, and camping with his family for many years. He especially enjoyed softball, playing in Men’s Leagues and church leagues well into his 60s. In his later years, he enjoyed vegetable gardening with his wife Carol until she became too ill to continue.
Travis was a current member of Faith Community Church in Davis and previously attended First Baptist Church in Pecatonica with his wife Carol. He served the Lord faithfully and actively all of his adult life. He loved to study God’s Word, and shared his knowledge and insight with young and old alike. He taught Sunday School and served many summers as a counselor at youth camps for his church in Largo. He was a deacon for many years, and enjoyed opening his home to missionaries and special music groups whenever possible. He generously supported many ministries that were sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and received great joy in being able to support family members who were in full-time ministry.
Travis led a godly life of example to his family, for whom he prayed daily and lovingly supported in so many ways. His steadfast faith, wisdom, and cheerful disposition will be deeply missed by his children and their spouses, Timothy of Piper City, and Darlene & Wayne Miller and Holly & Brad Faulkner of Davis. His grandchildren and spouses, Keith & Terra Miller of Winchester, Indiana; Ben & Allison Miller of Byron; Greg (fiancé Emily Benson) Miller of Rock City; Amber Miller of Davis; Kyle & Amelia Faulkner of Elgin; Nathan Faulkner of Nashville, Tennessee; and Kayleigh Faulkner of Davis will especially miss their PawPaw’s stories from his childhood and young adult years.
Travis was a very proud great grandpa to Alexis Amber Miller of Winchester, Indiana, and had been looking forward to the birth of two more great grandchildren due in April and late May. Travis is also survived by a sister, Donna Pressley of Johnson City, Tennessee; two brothers, T. Farrell Burel of Kennesaw, Georgia, and Wm. Joseph (Mary) Burel of Smyrna, Georgia; a sister-in-law, Jeannette Burel of Mansfield, Texas, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Carol; one brother, Herschel Burel; one sister, Marie Little; brother-in-law, Milton Little; sister-in-law, Marie Burel; brother-in-law, Jack Pressley; and nieces, Teresa Burel and Melinda Pressley.
