John Thomas Burton, 46, died June 12 of hepatic cancer at his home in Dallas.
Burton was a native of Carthage, Texas, and had lived in the Dallas area for the past three years. He graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler. He received his bachelor’s degree and his law degree from Baylor University in Waco.
Burton worked as in-house counsel for the Windle Turley law firm. He was a member of the Dallas-Fort Worth Black Tie Dinner Committee and the Human Rights Campaign. He was an avid gardener, an accomplished cook and a sharp attorney.
He was the father of a large family of pets, including his two Dalmatians, Panda and Abbey, and he will be greatly missed by his friends, his coworkers and his extended family, which included his workout partners at the gym.
Burton is survived by his life partner, Michael Irwin of Dallas, and his father, John W. Burton of Carthage.
Funeral services were scheduled at 11 a.m. on Friday at Oak Lawn Methodist Church. The family asks that memorial contributions be made to the SPCA of North Texas.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition, June 16, 2006.