Royal W. Burnham Sr.

1923 – 2009

LEEDS – Royal W. Burnham Sr., 85, of Leeds, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, July 4, at his home.

He was born in Livermore Falls, on Dec. 20, 1923, the son of George Burnham and Gertrude (Ramsey) Burnham Sutton. Royal attended school in the Livermore Falls. He was a lifetime member of the Augusta American Legion Post. Royal served in the U.S. Army, as Private First Class, from Oct. 23, 1942 to March 17, 1946, he was decorated with the Good Conduct Medal, Victory Medal, American Theater Campaign Ribbon and the European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon.

He loved his oldest and dearest best friend, his former wife Jeanette (Smith) Burnham Brann, who predeceased him four days earlier on June 30, 2009.

Royal had many hobbies, he enjoyed, fishing, hunting and camping with his friends, Skip and Mary at the Allagash. He also enjoyed his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and always had a camera ready for action.

Royal is survived by his 10 children, Faith Brann and her husband, Robert, of Coopers Mills, Hope Ellis and her husband, Daniel, of Benton, Royal (Butch) Burnham Jr. and his companion, Valerie Nickerson, of Leeds, Charity Nickerson of Leeds, Mark Burnham of Orlando Fla., Matthew Burnham and his wife, Kathy, of Greene, Patience (Pati) Fournier of Winslow, Eilene (Tinker) Labonte and her husband, Norman, of Augusta, Cora (Amy) Lane and her husband, Ralph Lane Jr., of Winslow and John Burnham of Orlando Fla. Royal is also survived by his brothe, Ray Burnham and his wife, Rose, of Lewiston; 29 grandchildren; 45 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and he and Jeanette’s longtime dear friends, Benny and Violette May of Leeds.

He was predeceased by his parents; three brothers, Freeman Bryan, Alex Wing and Raymond Burnham; and one sister, Mable (Burnham) Hamilton.

Royal was dearly loved by all who knew him and he will be sadly missed


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