U.S. Army veteran, P.R. Director for Shriners Hospital, active Mason
Published August 8, 2019
NORTH READING — Richard Welton Burgess, a resident of North Reading for 51 years and Zephyrhills Florida, died July 31, 2019 at the Winchester Hospital. He was 79 years of age.
Richard was born in Boston, Massachusetts on December 19, 1939, the son of the late Welton M. and Maxine L. (Butman) Burgess. Richard proudly served his country in the U.S. Army. He was the Director of Public Relations for the Shriners Hospital for Children in Boston. Richard was very active in the Masons. He was a member of both the North Reading Lodge and Good Samaritan Lodge of Reading of which he was a Past Master.
He was a past District Deputy Grand Master, past Deputy Grand Master, a member of the York Rite and Aleppo. He was also a retired Shriner Clown – Salty the Clown – and was the editor of “Clown Alley.”
He was active in the North Reading DeMolay chapter, past President of North Reading Little League, and as a hobby, sculptured clown figurines.
Richard was the beloved husband of Dea-Ann (Kerr) Burgess. He was the devoted father of Kevin Burgess of Nashua, N.H. and his companion Darlene Westhelle of Ocean Twp. N.J., Scott Burgess and his wife Laurette of North Reading, Timothy Burgess of Newburyport, and Christopher Burgess and his wife Monica of Byfield.
Richard was the cherished brother of Cindy Solomon and her husband George of Ocean Park, Maine and brother-in-law of Jeff Kerr and his wife Karen of Natick. He was the loving grandfather of Eric and Karyn Burgess, Sarah Lally and her husband Michael, Jonathan, Eleanor, Ania, Kyana and Sasha Burgess, and the loving great-grandfather of Paityn Lally.
He was the uncle of Katie Fayer and her husband Josh, and great-uncle of Lev Thomas, all of Cambridge. He was the father in-law of Doreen Burgess and her companion Bill Wood of Manchester, N.H. He also leaves his beloved dog, Lucy.
A funeral service celebrating his life will be held at the Douglass, Edgerley and Bessom Funeral Home, 25 Sanborn St. (corner of Woburn Street), Reading on Friday, August 9, 2019 at 11 a.m. Burial is private. Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, August 8 from 4-8 p.m. with a Masonic Service at 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Richard’s memory to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 51 Blossom St., Boston MA 02114 or the Wakefield-Lynnfield United Methodist Church, 273 Vernon St., Wakefield MA 01880. For directions and online guest book please visit: johnbdouglassfuneralhome.com.
