Robert "Red" Burnell Sr.

Robert “Red” Burnell age 81 passed away Friday, November 2, 2018 at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh. Red was born on June 29, 1937 in Plattsburgh, son of Earl “Buck” and Gladys (Fink) Burnell.
Red graduated from Mount Assumption Institute in 1955 where he excelled in sports, especially baseball. In the fall of 1956 he signed a contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers and was assigned to their Shawnee Oklahoma division 3-team. Although he was encouraged to renew his contract, with the Team Manager calling him regularly the following spring, his love of the North Country and his family and friends kept him in Plattsburgh.
Red was an avid outdoorsman, he had a great love of hunting whitetail deer with his family in the Adirondack Mountains. He was a persistent hunter who spent every hunting season enjoying the woods even during his declining health.
He was praised for his well groomed vegetable gardens. Numerous family and friends enjoyed many meals of his fresh vegetables. His sweet corn and delicious tomatoes were the talk of the town. When friends stopped to visit and commented on the lack of weeds, he responded “I don’t grow weeds” .
Red began his career with the New York State Department of Corrections in 1961 serving as a Correction Officer until his retirement from the Altona Correctional Facility in April 1995.
Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Margo (Moomey) ; his children, Linda and John McCumber of North Carolina, and their children Aryn McCumber and Jerielle (Cameron) Singleton; Bob and Cari (DePierro) Burnell of Plattsburgh and their children, Jason, Christy, Bobbie and Carissa; Cheryl and Bill Turner of Beekmantown and their children, Zachary, Joshua, Kara and her fiancé, Matthew Trombly. He is also survived by his brother, Earl, sisters in law, Carol (Halloran) Burnell, Sandra (Moomey) Lashua, Nancy (Moomey) Fisher and his brother in law, Gene Armstrong, along with eight great- grandchildren and many close nieces and nephews.
Red was predeceased by his parents; his brother, Gilbert (Carol) and his sister, Karen (Gene) Armstrong.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Monday, November 12 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Alexander’s Church in Morrisonville with reception to follow.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Heald Funeral Home, 38 Court Street, Plattsburgh, NY.
To light a memorial candle or leave online condolences please visit www.healdfuneralhomeinc.com .