Phillip "Dean" Burnette

Phillip "Dean" Burnette, 64, of Morganton, NC went to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, November 3, 2013 while surrounded by his family. He was born on July 7, 1949 to Fritz Burnette and Elizabeth Duckworth Burnette of Morganton. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, and friend. Dean’s greatest joy was his family. He always had a smile and a positive outlook on life.Mr. Burnette was a faithful member of Hopewell Baptist Church where he served on many committees and participated in missionary trips to Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Mississippi, and West Virginia. He loved serving others. Dean was a graduate of Salem High School where he played football, basketball, and baseball. He was an avid fan of the New York Yankees and the Green Bay Packers. He also loved travelling, playing golf, working in his garden, and spending time with his grandchildren. Dean was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and was employed at Caterpillar, Inc. for 14 years.Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 40 years, Betty May Burnette of the home ;a son, Brandon Dean Burnette and his wife, Amy, of Morganton; a daughter, Brooke Walker and her husband, Randy, of Morganton; grandchildren, Alex Walker, Charlie Walker, and Ava Carsen Burnette; siblings, Carolyn Norman of Morganton, Kenneth Burnette and his wife, Sybil, of Union Mills, NC, Evelyn Barnhardt and her husband, Mike, of Morganton, Dickie Burnette and his wife, Robin, of Morganton, Nancy Leonard and her husband, Johnny, of Morganton, Sandra Benfield and her husband, Donnie, of Morganton, and Roger Burnette and his wife, Julie of Morganton; and a number of nephews and nieces.The funeral will be held at 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 6, 2013 at Hopewell Baptist Church with the Reverends Danny Emory and Homer Murdock officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. at Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center.Memorial contributions may be made to Hopewell Baptist Church General Fund, 1112 Hopewell Road, Morganton, NC 28655, Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Road, Valdese, NC 28690, or to Touch the World Ministries, P.O. Box 2175, Morganton NC 28680.