Obituary for Christopher Lee Burton
SSG Christopher Lee Burton, aka “Cooky” “Chief” age 45, of Piper, Kansas passed away on September 24, 2021 with his former Spouse/Best Friend and Son by his side. Graveside Committal Service will be 2:30pm Thursday, Oct. 14th at the Leavenworth National Cemetery.
Growing up in Piper, Chris attended Piper High School where he enjoyed playing for Piper’s Football Team. Graduating in the Class of 1994, he was inspired by many interests. Years later, in 2003, Chris found a much more long-term career when he joined the U.S. Army. As he selflessly began his path to become an Artilleryman, trained at Fort Sill, OK. In Artillery Chris moved onward to Fort Benning, GA., where he gained his Jump Status and received his Airborne Wings.
At this point in his travels, Chris joined the 2/377 FAR in Fort Richardson, Alaska as well as the 1/501 PIR where he completed numerous travels to such places as Germany, Fiji and Australia. In Australia he completed in Australia’s first Talisman Sabre 2005, a biennial multinational military exercise in order to make necessary changes, upgrades and modifications on their execution in times where forces should have to join in Wartime. At which point he then received orders to join the 18th Airborne Corps with the 3/321 in Fort Bragg, NC. There he completed his first tour in Iraq’s Operation Iraqi Freedom. Upon coming home, soon the orders came that brought him back to Kansas to Fort Riley, where his duties became more dedicated. Becoming a father and a SGT. In the Military came easy for him. He excelled in all training and was avid about “taking care of business”. Shortly after his son Jacob’s 2nd Birthday he was deployed yet again during “Operation Enduring Freedom” with the Big Red One, assisting in a more politicized peace keeping mission. Having two tours he returned to Fort Bragg, home of the 82nd Airborne, which felt like home to Chris. There he joined the A 1/319th AFAR, where cohesion was priority, a place where brothers and sisters are impeccable. His idea in being an NCO was to “Lead them in such a way that, when they are overseas together, there was no questions everyone was coming home”. His brothers and Command had great respects for Chris. Brothers such as: Smoke Seymore, Salias, Shulte, Wojick, Witzak and Delzelle made each day purposeful. As they say “Paratroopers never Die, they just Slip Away.”
Chris was preceded in death by his mother Rosemary Ann Burton, father James Francis Burton, his eldest sister Patty Walker. Survivors include his former spouse/sons mother Lindsay Flagler, son Jacob Burton, two brothers Jimmy and Tim Burton, nephew and niece Jeremy and Amy Surprise, lifelong best friend David Lockerby and many other loved ones.
In lieu of flowers, Toy Collection and or Donations can be made to Michael Bergens – Hands To Hearts, Venmo @Flag1 CASHAPP $FlaglerKC, in details type BURTON TOY.
Toy drop off can be made upon exit of the service.
Growing up in Piper, Chris attended Piper High School where he enjoyed playing for Piper’s Football Team. Graduating in the Class of 1994, he was inspired by many interests. Years later, in 2003, Chris found a much more long-term career when he joined the U.S. Army. As he selflessly began his path to become an Artilleryman, trained at Fort Sill, OK. In Artillery Chris moved onward to Fort Benning, GA., where he gained his Jump Status and received his Airborne Wings.
At this point in his travels, Chris joined the 2/377 FAR in Fort Richardson, Alaska as well as the 1/501 PIR where he completed numerous travels to such places as Germany, Fiji and Australia. In Australia he completed in Australia’s first Talisman Sabre 2005, a biennial multinational military exercise in order to make necessary changes, upgrades and modifications on their execution in times where forces should have to join in Wartime. At which point he then received orders to join the 18th Airborne Corps with the 3/321 in Fort Bragg, NC. There he completed his first tour in Iraq’s Operation Iraqi Freedom. Upon coming home, soon the orders came that brought him back to Kansas to Fort Riley, where his duties became more dedicated. Becoming a father and a SGT. In the Military came easy for him. He excelled in all training and was avid about “taking care of business”. Shortly after his son Jacob’s 2nd Birthday he was deployed yet again during “Operation Enduring Freedom” with the Big Red One, assisting in a more politicized peace keeping mission. Having two tours he returned to Fort Bragg, home of the 82nd Airborne, which felt like home to Chris. There he joined the A 1/319th AFAR, where cohesion was priority, a place where brothers and sisters are impeccable. His idea in being an NCO was to “Lead them in such a way that, when they are overseas together, there was no questions everyone was coming home”. His brothers and Command had great respects for Chris. Brothers such as: Smoke Seymore, Salias, Shulte, Wojick, Witzak and Delzelle made each day purposeful. As they say “Paratroopers never Die, they just Slip Away.”
Chris was preceded in death by his mother Rosemary Ann Burton, father James Francis Burton, his eldest sister Patty Walker. Survivors include his former spouse/sons mother Lindsay Flagler, son Jacob Burton, two brothers Jimmy and Tim Burton, nephew and niece Jeremy and Amy Surprise, lifelong best friend David Lockerby and many other loved ones.
In lieu of flowers, Toy Collection and or Donations can be made to Michael Bergens – Hands To Hearts, Venmo @Flag1 CASHAPP $FlaglerKC, in details type BURTON TOY.
Toy drop off can be made upon exit of the service.