Newspaper Article (date unknown) Steuben County News Service - "Couple Flees Burning Home"
Dairy farmer Shirley Burdett and his wife escaped to safety early yesterday with only the clothese they wore as fire destroyed their two story brick home on Route 70 at Big Creek, about four miles west of Howard. A lapse in telephone service delayed summoning fireman. Temperatures were below zero as Fremont and Howard fireman battled the blaze, finally reported at 6:45AM. A family spokesman said the couple was asleep in the downstairs bedroom and apparently was awakened by the roar of the flames. They got out of the house in their nightclothes through a front entrance, the spokesman said. Nothing was saved from the house, he said. The couple lived there alone. The Burdetts, after fleeing their home, drove to the nearby home of Stanley Drumm. Drumm, a son and son-in-law started for the Burdett place and encountered state police investigating an auto accident on Route 70. The trooper radioed for firefighters. The inside of the house was just one big ball of fire when we got there, said Fremont Fire Chief Richard Smith. He said cuase of the fire and amount of damages were not determined. The Burdetts were staying with a relative.2
S.R.Burdett Dies, Howard Assessor - Shirley R. Burdett, 75, of Howard RFD 3 was found dead this morning on his farm along the Big Creek Road. It was determined that he died of natural causes. He was seen shortly after 5AM today when he left his home to milk cows in the barn. About three hours later he was found lying on the barn floor.
Burdett was past master of the Big Creek Grange No.324 and was an assessor for the Town of Fremont.
Surviving him are his wife Cora Stevens Burdett; one son, Steven M. of North Hornell; two sisters, Mrs. Mildred Davis of Hornell RFD 3, and Mrs.Duncan Munro of Shelburne,VT; two brothers, Elmer of Hornell RFD 2, and Kenneth of Howard.
The funeral will be Saturday at 2PM at the Robertson Funeral Home in Hornell with burial in Howard Cemetery.
Steven M. Burdett, 77, of Gifford Street, passed away Wednesday (September 16, 2015) at his home.
Born in Hornell, August 24, 1938, the son of Shirley R. and Cora Stevens Burdett, he had resided in Hornell all his life. Steve was a graduate of Hornell High School, class of 1956 and attended evening classes at the State University of New York at Alfred.
He was employed for 20 years in the circulation department at the Hornell Evening Tribune and later at the Olean Times Herald. Steve finished his work career at Fiamingo Moving & Storage in Hornell. He was a member of the New York Army Guard for 12 years attaining the rank of Captain. Steve attended the First Baptist Church of Hornell, was a member of the Stephens Mills Grange, the NRA, the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, and was an avid bowler, reader of history and politics and enjoyed country music.
He was predeceased by his parents and two brothers-in-law, Karl Meeks and Morris Meeks. He is survived by his loving wife Carol Meeks Burdett, one son, Matthew (Laurel) Burdett of Scottsdale AZ, one daughter, Kathleen (Timothy) Keohane of Brewerton, five grandchildren, Eva Grace, Joel T. and Cora Hope Keohane, Broderick M. and Collin J. Burdett. Sister-In-Law and Brother-In-Law, William & Susan Salvatore of California, Sister-In-Law, Lillian Meeks of Canisteo, Nephews Gregory Meeks of Greenwood and Eric (Kimberly) Meeks of Florida, Nieces, Theresa Maresh of California and Tammy ( Garrett) Milks of Williamsville.
To send a remembrance to the family please visit www.brownandpowersfuneralhomes.com. The family is being assisted by Gerald R. Brown, Director. The family will be present to receive friends at the Bender - Brown & Powers Funeral Home, 354 Canisteo St, Hornell on Tuesday (Sept. 22, 2015) from 11 AM until 1 PM followed by Funeral services at 1 PM with Rev. Cedric Cooper officiating. Burial with Military Honors will follow at Howard Cemetery. Friends may make memorial contributions to Care First, 3805 Meads Creek Road, Painted Post, NY 14870, or to the Hornell First Baptist Church, 28 Church St. Hornell, NY 14843.
Dorothy J. Smith, 91, a long time resident of the Town of Howard, passed away peacefully Monday (March 31, 2014) .
Born in the Town of Fremont, June 10, 1922, the daughter of Lewis and Mildred Burdett Davis, she had resided in the Town of Howard since 1941. She was a graduate of Hornell High School, Class of 1939. She was married to Stanley K. Smith, and was active as a wife, mother, and home maker, especially taking part in the operation of the family farm. She was a member of the Sovereign Grace Baptist Church on the Big Creek Road, and was recently honored for over 75 year membership in the Stephens Mills Grange. She was active in her church teaching Sunday School, participating in the church choir, the Womans Group of the church and also served on the election board of the Hornell School District for several years.
She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, Stanley K. Smith in 2008, her son, Allyn Smith in 1973, her infant grand daughter, Mary Lynn Burns, as well as her brother, Herman Davis. She is survived by three daughters, Carol (William Phelps) Burns of Arkport, Marcia (Albert) Burns of Bath, and Joanne (Roger) Williamson of Greenwood, two sons, Lowell (Bonnie) Smith and Dale (Lucy) Smith both of the Town of Howard, her brother, Charles Davis of Cortland, her sister-in-law, Earla Davis of Hornell, 23 Grandchildren, 40 Great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren , several nieces and nephews.
To send a remembrance to the family or to light a candle in Dorothy’s memory, please visit www.brownandpowersfuneralhomes.com. The family is being assisted by Gerald R. Brown, Director. The family will be present to receive friends at the Bender - Brown & Powers Funeral Home, 354 Canisteo St, Hornell on Saturday from Noon until 2 PM. Funeral services will be held following calling hours on Saturday at 2:00 PM, Rev. Donald Rubel officiating. Burial will be in Howard Cemetery. A Grange Memorial Service will be held at 1:45 PM on Saturday prior to the funeral service. Friends may make memorial contributions to: Turning Point, Elm Street, Hornell, NY 14843 or to Faith In Action, PO Box 117, Hornell, NY 14843.
HORNELL-Herman M. Davis, 84, of 166 Leach Ave., passed away Saturday evening (Dec. 19, 2009) at Hornell Gardens surrounded by the family he loved so much. Herm took God's hand and peacefully walked away. His family has lost our beloved "Grandpa Herm."
He was born on June 1, 1925 in the town of Howard to Lewis and Mildred Burdett Davis.
Herm lived his entire life in the Hornell area and attended the one room schoolhouse his mother taught in and graduated from Hornell High School in 1942. After graduating from high school, Herm continued working on the family farm on the Big Creek Road in the town of Howard with his father. For many years he also ran a milk route.
On Nov. 14, 1964 Herm married the former Erla McGregor and together they raised five children.
In 1968 he began his employment at the Foster-Wheeler Corp. in Dansville, retiring in 1987 with 19 years of service. After retiring he was employed as guard at the former M-K Corporation in Hornell and later worked as the "handyman" at the former Maple Crest Manor in Hornell where the staff and residents lovingly called him "Mr. D."
Although he had stopped farming many years ago, you could never truly take the farmer out of him. After moving from the farm, for many years he continued to plant a garden there and always enjoyed helping his son, Earl, once he began running the farm again. Herm's love of farming was exceeded only by the love he had for his family.
For many years he was a member of the Big Creek Grange and the Howard Masonic Lodge. He was also a youth fellowship leader at the Big Creek Church and sang in a quartet with his father, his brother, Charles and his uncle, Elmer Burdett.
Herm's soft-spoken nature and gentle spirit made him a friend to all who knew him. He was a treasure to his family and a gift to anyone that knew him. He will be truly missed.
Besides his wife of 45 years, his family includes his five children, Earl (Chris) MacNaughton, Kay (Nathan) Cornell, Carl (Denise) MacNaughton, Laurie (Mike) Whiteman all of Hornell and Jeff (Jessica) Davis of Bath; his 12 grandchildren, Claire (Kevin) White, Shawn and Shad MacNaughton, Andrea (Chris) Muhleisen, Michael Cornell, Matthew and Mitchell MacNaughton, Josh and Madison Whiteman and Eli, Jonas and Catherine Davis; his four great-grandchildren, Arden and Adrianna White and Jaxson and Kenny Muhleisen; his brother, Charles (Laura) Davis of Etna, NY; his sister, Dorothy Smith of Hornell; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was predeceased by his parents.
At Herm's request there will be no calling hours. A memorial service will take place at 1 p.m. Wednesday (Dec. 23) at the Arkport Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Steven Jewell officiating. Private committal services and interment will be held at the convenience of his family at Rural Cemetery, Hornell.
In lieu of flowers, his family requests that donations in Herm's name be made to either the Hornell Area Humane Society, PO Box 533, Hornell, NY 14843 or to the Arkport Presbyterian Church, PO Box 6, 15 Main St., Arkport, NY 14807.
Our family would like to thank Vicki Burns and the wonderful staff at the Hornell Gardens who so compassionately and lovingly cared for Herm in his final days.