Anthony Wayne Burns, loving grandfather, father, brother, uncle, and son, passed away Jan. 4, 2010, at Providence Medical Center with his son, David, by his side.
Anthony, fondly known as Tony by his friends and family, was born Nov. 6, 1942 in Pasadena, Calif. He was the son of William J. Burns and Ruth E. Burns.
Tony met the love of his life, Yolanda Aguilera, at a local dance club in Lakewood, Calif., known as the Cinnamon Cinder. The night they met he told her they would get married. In 1964, a year later, they got married and had two children, Amy and David, as well as many furry children (as they affectionately referred to their pets), Kobuk, Mortimer, TB, Sierra, and Turbo.
After completing his master’s degree in geography from Cal State Long Beach in 1971, they moved to Anchorage, Alaska. Tony helped map out the native communities in the more remote parts of Alaska. He frequently flew in with bush pilots or traveled by dog sled. Tony loved adventure! After completing this project, he went on to work as a city planner for the Anchorage Municipality. After 16 adventurous years in Alaska, the family moved back to California where he worked for ESRI, Environmental Systems Research Institute.
Working as a marketing manager for ESRI, Tony enjoyed working with fellow coworkers and clients worldwide. Some of his more memorable travels took him to Thailand and Siberia. He always returned from his trips with a gift in hand and plenty of stories. He made some wonderful friends along the way that lasted him a lifetime.
As much as Tony worked, he never lost sight of the importance of family. It was important to Tony and Yolanda to help their children realize their dreams. They helped put Amy through school at Brooks Institute of Photography and David through film school at Seattle Film Institute. Equally important to them was taking a family vacation together every year. They took many road trips together, always wanting to share different parts of the country with their children. Particularly special to Tony was Mammoth lakes, Calif., a place his own family took him as a boy.
After 17 years with ESRI, Tony and Yolanda retired to Whidbey Island in 2004. They built their dream home with the love and support of their family and friends. Throughout all their years in the lower 48, their love for the Northwest never subsided.
In his retirement Tony enjoyed working on his model trains, spending countless hours working in their yard and playing with their two dogs Sierra and Turbo. Even more important, he and Yolanda valued the many new friends they made on the island. To them, their family grew in size.
During the last two years of Tony’s life, he became Yolanda’s caregiver with the help of their family and friends. Shortly after her death in May 2009, Tony was diagnosed with lung cancer. Once again, everyone reached out to help the Burns family.
In July 2009, Tony was blessed to see the arrival of his first grandchild, Ava Aguilera Carpenter. She gave him so much comfort and joy in his final months.
Tony leaves behind his daughter, Amy Aguilera Carpenter, son-in-law, Scott Christopher Carpenter and granddaughter, Ava Aguilera Carpenter; son, David Sean Burns; sister, Cynthia Evans Jacks and husband, Jean-Pierre Jacks; nephews, Eric and David Jacks and their spouses, Emily and Kelly Jacks and mother, Ruth Evelyn Burns.
The family would like to give special recognition to the staff at Providence Hospital and Whidbey Island General Hospital. Thank you so much for your enduring compassion and sensitivity.
A funeral mass was given at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Coupeville, on Monday, Jan. 11. He was laid to rest at the Sunnyside Cemetery immediately following the Mass.
Remembrances may be made in his honor to the American Cancer Society. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Burley Funeral Chapel at 30 SE Ely St., Oak Harbor, WA 98277.
