Robert Burns

Robert Edgar Burns was born on February 14, 1953. He was the first son of Clarence Edgar Burns, Jr. and Beverly Ann Burns. His mother was just 16 and his father was 18. Robby was the beginning of a family for them. He was loved and spoiled by his Grandparents, Robert and Beverly Tuttle. His Gram and Grandpa would take him from his mother by just reaching out their window as they all lived next to one another. That same Grandmother is still living today at 93 years old and never thought she would outlive her daughter and her first grandchild, who she referred to as “her Robby”. Some people called him Robby and some called him Robert or Bob or Rob.

Robby was a Christian and has gone home to Heaven with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He was a son, brother, husband, uncle, father and a true family man. He was born in a part of Mease Hospital in Dunedin, FL that has since been torn down. He lived in the Bay area for all of his childhood.

He was a straight A student. He began working when he was 12 yrs. old. He drove a small motorcycle back and forth to work and to school. He also managed to babysit his siblings along with school and work. He received his first guitar at 12 along with guitar lessons. He became an expert at the guitar and eventually wrote his own songs and put them to music. Robby played music and sang, he was a true artist. In his later years he ventured into poetry, writing and being an author and a painter.

For most of his life he was a real joker, always pulling pranks on people and coming up with jokes. The first of his victims was his three siblings, Debbie, Danny and Teri who had no choice but to tolerate the pranks and mischievousness from him. This past April fools was possibly the only time he forgot to try to trick people.
After the death of his father Robby joined the Army and served an extended term as an MP. The family lived in Ohio, Alabama and Maryland. After Robby’s discharge the family moved back to the Tampa Bay area where they all lived until his passing.

Robby owned his own private detective agency for years and was able to employ his mother and was teased about being a Momma's Boy. They made a good team and he was patient and kind to her as her employer. Robby signed on with Pasco Sheriff's Department and Pinellas Sheriff's Department. He worked with the Sheriff's agency for years until his health debilitated and he needed to retire on disability. He loved working in law enforcement and has written stories about his days on the force.

He worked on political campaigns, and different causes, such as spouse abuse and homelessness to name a few. When he had a job, a cause or project he gave it all he had. He poured himself into everything he aspired to do.
He loved motorcycles and had all different kinds and gave a lot of them away to others who also loved them. He enjoyed riding and Kathie rode with him on one of his bikes that had a sidecar. They rode and worked with the Christian prison ministry motorcycle group that traveled all over. He had to let this go too when his health deteriorated to the point he could barely walk.

Robby married his sweetheart, Kathie, at 17 and they were still together the day he passed at the age of 59. Much of his art was inspired by her. He was head over heels in love with Kathie and never believed he deserved her.
Robby never thought he would live past 45 because his father passed at 45 and his grandfather at 47. Praise the Lord he did live past 45, but when his mother passed at 60 he decided he would not make it to 60, which he did not. Like his mother many of his last years had been filled with illness and pain.

Robby and Kathie had 2 children, Roger and Amy. He loved his children very much. His son, Roger, followed in his footsteps and is in the Naval Reserves, his daughter, Amy, has a nursing career. He was very proud of both of them. His grandchildren, Justin and Bradley – Roger's children – and Lucas, Amy's child, were the light of his life.

Robbt truly was a very, very generous person and had a very tender and loving heart.