Trumon Burgess

Trumon Leon Burgess was born in Tahlequah to Truman and Lula Ester Burgess on November 5, 1940. He passed away on August 31, 2022 at his home surrounded by his daughters on his horse ranch.

He grew up with his mother, a sister Lavona and three brothers David, Garry, and Daniel. Until age 15, he divided his time between his grandmother's home and the family's farm on 14-Mile Creek. Across barefoot summers, the boys fished, swam, and played along the creek. In winter, they walked or rode horseback one and a half miles to Gideon School, a one- room building housing grades one to six.

Trumon loved horses. The farm's one horse, Dixie, was a good galloper, but she also had to pull the wagon or plow as needed. In sixth grade, a neighbor gave Trumon a young sorrel horse for his own. Horses remained a lifelong interest. He learned to repair saddles and at age 21, opened a leather repair shop in Tahlequah.

Trumon's mechanical aptitude was very high. Throughout his life, he worked as an auto mechanic, welder, roofer, plumber, and carpenter. Once, a clutch of young people came into his store and asked if he could help with their stalling car, Trumon listened to the ailing engine for a moment, removed the carburetor with a pair of pliers, replaced the gasket with one he cut from a cereal box and in minutes, the old car was back on the road purring like a kitten.

Trumon founded several businesses and, at the age of 35, He opened a very successful tavern, The Capitol, across the street from the Cherokee County Courthouse. Later, he started and operated a roofing company and opened a country store and gas station with his wife Libby. As well as a body shop and auction house. He reopened a saddlery and leather repair shop. He closed the business in 2018 and leased the old farm from brother Garry and began developing the 14 Mile Creek Ranch.

He loved spending time with his daughters and grandchildren, His favorite pastime was working with his horses and he was passionate about his leather work.

He was preceded in death, by his parents Trumon Burgess and Lula Esther Rogers; The love of his life, Libby; children, Lisa Raines, and siblings, Lavona Burgess, and David Rogers; grandchildren, Jimmy Potts, and Taylor Robinson; great grandchild, Logan Anderson.

He is survived by a loving family, which includes his children, Trudy Warren and husband Rusty, Jackie Richardson of Tahlequah, Phyllis Center of Tahlequah, Andrea Cape of Tahlequah, Tina Anderson of Muskogee, and Sunny Sweet and husband Joe of Welling; siblings, Garry Rogers and wife Denise of Humboldt, AZ, Daniel Rogers and wife Randi of Alexandria, VA and Thomas Burgess of Wagoner, OK; 15 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. He also leaves behind numerous family and many friends.