This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Birkner, Green, Duncan, Burgess, Sutherland, Graves, Jensen, Baish, Kiesling, Klein, Stevens, Gest, Wakefield Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/plB.2ACI/3471 Message Board Post: Otis Henry Birkner Nov. 19, 1924 - Oct. 8, 2005 Otis Henry “Butch” Birkner, 80, of Bay City, passed away Saturday, Oct. 8, 2005, in Bay City, Texas. He was born Nov. 19, 1924, in Manchaca, Texas, to Joe Birkner, Sr. and Mabel Green Birkner. Butch was a lifelong resident of Bay City and member of the First United Methodist Church. He was a quiet, sensitive man who was a devoted caregiver to many family members and friends in their time of need. Otis first worked on Birkner’s Dairy, later as a brick mason/building contractor, and then as a partner in Birkner Lumber Co. In 1976, he and his wife Doris purchased the business, and it became known as Birkner Paint and Fireplaces. Butch was happiest when “wetting a line” in the river, or deer hunting with family and friends. He truly loved being outdoors. Those who knew him well enjoyed gifts of harvest from his prized vegetable garden or receiving a rose grown with special love. He is survived by: his children, Cindy Duncan and husband Terry, Linda Burgess and husband Larry, all of Bay City, and Donna Sutherland and husband, Gregg, of Wadsworth, Otis Birkner, Jr. of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Charles Birkner and wife Jill of Magnolia; grandchildren, Shelly Duncan Graves, Sharon Duncan Jensen, Lauren Duncan, Robert Baish, Christopher Sutherland, Zachry Birkner, Taylor Birkner, Kaili Birkner and Rylee Birkner; and great-grandchildren, Maycee Baish and Anna Jensen; brothers, Joe Birkner, Jr. of Bay City, Otha “Skeet” Birkner of Vanderpool, Texas, and Jack Birkner of El Campo, Texas; sisters, Mary Kiesling of Kenedy, Texas, Anna Ruth Klein of Tomball, Texas, and Kathleen Stevens of Fort Worth, Texas; and cousin, Kenneth Birkner of San Antonio, Texas. He was preceded in death by: his wife of 59 years, Doris Gest Birkner; parents, Joe and Mabel Birkner, Sr.; and sister, Mabel Birkner Wakefield. A funeral service was at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2005, at the First Methodist Church, with the Rev. Pauline Harvey and the Rev. Kevin Young officiating. Interment followed at Roselawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Van Vleck. Pallbearers were Wyatt, Tim, Donald and Jack, Jr. Birkner, Jeffrey Klein and Richard P. Stevens. Honorary Pallbearers were Dr. James E. Cowart, Rex Quinn, Larry Kiesling, Robert Klein, Richard Stevens, Kenneth Birkner, Charles Stephenson, Kevin Jensen and Stan Graves. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, c/o Martha Johnson, 3008 Ave L, Bay City, TX 77414. Arrangements with Taylor Bros. Funeral Home, Bay City (979)245-4613. Bay City Tribune October 12, 2005 Matagorda County, Texas