Vernon "Leroy" Burton

Vernon James LeRoy Burton, 73, of Great Falls, a retired Air Force tech sergeant, died complications from Alzheimer's disease Sunday, October 9, 2011 at a local care facility. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Schnider Funeral Home. A vigil will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Funeral Liturgy will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 13 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Burial of ashes will take place in Mount Olivet Cemetery at a later date.Leroy was born August 6, 1938, in Livingston, Montana, to Leola Catherine (Bowlds) and Vernon Leslie Burton. He graduated from Park County High School, married his high school sweetheart, Mary Jo Sorensen, in 1960, and joined the United States Air Force.Leroy served as an expert in communications, computing and missile technology at Vandenburg, Ellsworth, McChord, Malmstrom and other stateside Air Force Bases, and overseas in Korea, Turkey, Japan, and Greece. He reached the rank of Technical Sergeant.After retiring from the Air Force, Leroy worked at and attended classes at the University of Great Falls.Leroy was a kind, quiet man and a loving father. His hobbies included reading science fiction, locksmithing, gunsmithing, and tinkering with computers and gadgets of all kinds. He enjoyed playing with his grandchildren, helping around the house, and watching old movies on TV with his dogs on his lap.Leroy is survived by his wife, Mary Jo; children Christopher (Michelle), James (Anastasia), Kenneth (Shawna), Kelly Jo and Tomiko Hewitt; grandchildren Connie, Brandy; James, Grace; Britteny Asmussen, Linsey Daly, Emily, Alexander; Jackson; Cedric Hewitt, Austyn Hewitt, Gavin Hewitt; great-grandchildren Bonnie Asmussen and Gregory Daly; siblings Mary Anne Brandal, Jerome, Robert, Jane Anderson, Marcella Sawyer; and numerous nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Joseph.The family requests memorial donations to be made for Alzheimer's research. Please visit http://alz.org.