Donald (Don) Elbert Burres died unexpectedly on January 5, 2019.

Don was born on June 3, 1936 to Elbert (Bert) and Irene Burres in San Rafael, California. He attended elementary schools in Happy Camp, Orick and Eureka and graduated from Eureka Senior High School.

In 1954, Don met his future wife, Gladys Janet Nelson. They married on November 19, 1955 and just recently celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary. Don started their marriage working in the woods and at a local plywood mill before taking a position at the Oil Terminals Company in Eureka and working his way up to Plant Manager. He retired from there after 35 years.

After retiring Don and Gladys started traveling the United States in their RV and went full-time for 13 years. They visited every continental state and much of Canada. Afterwards they split their time between Prineville, Oregon and Apache Junction, Arizona. After Don’s stroke in 2003, they moved a little closer to home by moving to Cave Junction, Oregon for part of the year. As Don’s health continued to decline they finally moved back to Humboldt County, settling in Fortuna.

They raised three children, Steven Burres, Gary Burres and Jennifer Goodner.

Don loved to bowl and belonged to many leagues over the years. For many years he wrote a column about the local bowling scene for the Times-Standard. He also loved to rockhound and spent many hours in the Arizona desert looking for his beautiful stones. After cutting and polishing them, he had several of them made into beautiful jewelry for his wife, daughters and granddaughters. Don loved being outdoors and the family spent many days and nights camping at Ruth Lake, Trinity Lake and the Oregon Coast. Don was also an avid 49er Faithful. For Christmas one year the family purchased a personalized brick for him in the new Levi Stadium.

Don was preceded in death by his parents Bert and Irene Burres, brother and sister-in-law Orville and June Marks, sisters-in-law Marlene Hayes and Mary Nelson, brother-in-law Roger Nelson, nephew Ronald Hayes and nieces Laura Hayes and Lynda Marks.

Don is survived by his wife Gladys Burres, his sons, Steve of Fortuna, Gary (Roxie) Burres of Eureka, daughter Jennifer (Dan) Goodner of Fortuna and daughter-in-law Janeane Britt of Carmichael. Don is also survived by six grandchildren: Katie Burres, Serra Burres, Stephanie Burres, Lindsey (Cory) Stone, Scott (Bailey) Goodner and Raquel Camacho. He also leaves behind five great grandchildren: JaVante, Jamya, Adrian, Araceli and Rustin, as well as nephews Mike, Steve and Bruce Marks, David Hayes and nieces Leslie Pietsch, Kathy Deskins and Cindy Nelson.

Arrangements are under the direction of Goble’s Fortuna Mortuary, 560 12th Street, Fortuna. Friends and family are invited for visitation/viewing to begin Monday, January 14th at 1 p.m., followed by a service at 2 p.m. The family, and whomever wishes too, will then go to Ocean View Cemetery in Eureka for a short graveside gathering after which the family will hold a Celebration of Life at the Fortuna Monday Club located at 610 Main Street, Fortuna beginning at 3 p.m.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Salvation Army or The American Cancer Society. 

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