A memorial service for Gregory Don Burris of Garland, Texas, will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at Concordia Lutheran Church, 5702 N Jupiter Rd, Garland, TX 75044. Reception to follow. Burial at Rosendale Church cemetery in Madelia, Minnesota, at a later date.
Greg died unexpectedly overnight between Wednesday, March 19 and Thursday, March 20 in his home in Lawrence, Kansas, passing peacefully in his sleep.
Greg was born on August 17, 1956, in Wichita Falls, Texas, to Sue and Jack Burris. His siblings Judy, Gary, and David were born in 1952, 1955, and 1961, respectively. In 1958, Jack started working for Kraft Foods, and the family moved to Garland, Texas. Greg attended Caldwell Elementary and O’Banion Junior High School.
Greg graduated from South Garland High School in spring 1974 after serving as the center midfielder on the school’s first boys’ soccer team and as a trainer for other sports. He began working on a Bachelor’s in Architecture at the University of Kentucky that fall while also playing soccer, but returned to Garland after one school year.
In 1976, Greg began working for E-Systems, a company contracted by the U.S. government to support the Sinai Field Mission to monitor peace between Egypt and Israel. Greg spent a year and a half split between living in the Sinai and Israel.
After returning to the U.S., he struggled with alcoholism, eventually winning that battle. He was sober from 1990 until the end of his life. His own struggle with alcoholism inspired him to help others in their fight with addiction. He lived and worked at Oxford House, a halfway house for those struggling with alcoholism and drug addiction, from 1990 until 1997. He helped open several new Oxford Houses around the country during that time.
In 1994, Greg earned his Associate of Arts and Sciences from Richland College at the age of 37. He played on the Richland soccer team, and at one point, they were ranked #2 in the country among junior colleges.
Greg met his future wife, Terry Lyn Leines, while both were working at Excel Telecommunications in 1995. They were married on July 3, 1999. Their only son, Zane Elijah Burris, was born in 2002. When Zane was little, much of Greg’s time was spent watching the movie “Finding Nemo.” Greg and Zane would often watch “Finding Nemo” together two or three times per day. Greg left Excel in 2001, and managed to find free time from “Finding Nemo” viewings to work in telecommunications for the rest of his career.
Greg earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at Dallas in Interdisciplinary Studies, Sociology and Management in 2004. He was 47 years old.
Greg was a caring husband. Much of the last few years of Greg’s life were spent caring for Terry, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. They moved to Lawrence, Kansas, in the summer of 2022 to be closer to Terry’s family. Greg unofficially retired in March 2023 to take care of
Terry full-time. Terry went into memory care in October 2023, and Greg visited her every day. Terry died in December of 2024, in the arms of Greg and Zane.
Greg is survived by his son, Zane; sister, Judy, and brother-in-law, Luis Rey; brother, Gary; mother-in-law, Jan Leines; brother- and sister-in-laws, Rick and Shirl; brother- and sister-in-laws, Jon and Elyce; and arguably-spoiled, but beloved dogs Obi and Trixie. Greg was preceded by his wife, Terry; brother, David; father, Jack; mother, Sue; and father-in-law, Dick.
Greg was an avid soccer player and fan. He began playing with a local team, Bucky’s Banana Bangers, in fall 1989. Several of the friendships he made on the team lasted his entire life. Greg would often bring Zane to his soccer practices to play with the team, and Greg played with them until moving to Kansas in summer of 2022. In his early years with the team, he was awarded many yellow cards, mostly for dissent. He never once convinced a referee that they had made an incorrect call. Gradually, he became less outspoken.
Greg became scuba certified in 1977 in the Red Sea, while living in Israel. Greg went on hundreds of dives throughout his life. Terry was also a scuba diver. They went diving many times together, mostly in Cozumel, Mexico. Greg and Terry had their honeymoon in Cozumel and returned many times, including with Zane.
Greg and Terry shared their love for the oceans with their son Zane, who is now a deep-sea explorer and oceanographer working towards his Ph.D. in Marine Sciences at the University of Georgia.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Alzheimer’s Association (https://www.alz.org/) or the Ocean Conservancy (https://oceanconservancy.org/).
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 12, 2025, with a reception to follow, at the church:
Concordia Lutheran Church
5702 N Jupiter Rd
Garland, TX 75044
(972) 495-4714
Arapaho Flowers (https://www.arapahoflowers.com) will deliver flowers to the church the day of the memorial service, if ordered by Wednesday, April 9.
I don’t remember an argumentative/yellow card side of Greg. Must have been before I joined the team.
What I remember is that he was a fierce competitor, but showed great sportsmanship, and fully enjoyed the camaraderie of the Bangers. He was a natural leader on the field, had amazing soccer talent, but was very unselfish and humble.
After reading his obituary, I see he lived those traits his entire life.
Greg has left behind a great legacy and example for others to follow.
Zane, I am praying for you and your family. You were blessed to have 2 amazing, loving parents and hold that memory and allow it to bring you peace during your mourning.
I knew them both well from Excel and would have lunch with your Mom often after you were born. She was my mentor for so long and had a wonderful impact on my life. I loved how much Greg adored her and how fun they were together.
Trust God to lead your path, He has great plans for you.
I worked for Greg on a couple of Frontier Telecom projects. He was supportive & shared his knowledge. So sorry to hear that he passed away. In our office, somebody left overripe fruit at their desk over a long weekend. Greg brought apple cider vinegar from home to add to our homemade concoction to trap hundreds of fruit flies. We all felt so victorious when it worked. Just a funny memory of Greg!
Dear Zane, I am so sorry for your loss. I had worked with both your parents in the past on separate occasions, with your Mom at ITI and with your Dad at Excel in the UK. Both were truly remarkable individuals and they are to be missed. You and your family are in my thoughts at the difficult time.
Zane, I never met you or your father. I worked with your mom at ETC. I have heard her talk about you and your father, about your Cozumel trips and have seen you grow up from a young kid into a teenager through the pictures your mom shared. I am so sorry for your loss. May you find strength in this difficult time.
Zane, I am so sorry for your loss. Your dad was so proud of you and all you have done and who you are, I am glad for your closeness and pray that you will be comforted.
Zane, I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your father. I never met your dad, but was a high school and college friend of your mom’s. After I moved from Lawrence, we kept touch with Christmas cards. Loved watching you grow up in those photos. You are in my thoughts and prayer in this difficult time.
Zane, I never met your father. My daughter lives two houses from your father’s house. I saw your father walk to the mailbox usually with one pup in tow and the other pup waiting patiently in the yard for them to return. I noticed the pups were off leash yet so well behaved. It was so heartwarming to watch the three interact. I am so very sorry for your loss.
Dear Zane and the rest of Greg’s family,
I am so sorry to hear of his death. You are all in my heart in this time of shock and sorrow.