Jody Burgess

(From Derfelt Funeral Home)

Jody Lee Burgess, age 59, passed away at 10:38 a.m., Saturday, March 31, 2018 at Freeman West Hospital Joplin, MO following a brief illness.

Born August 16, 1958 in Joplin, Missouri to Jerry Lee and Martha Jane (Monroe) Burgess, Jody grew up in and attended school in the Galena/Joplin area. Jody was united in marriage to his childhood sweetheart, Tina M. Alexander, on October 5, 1979 in Miami, OK. Soon after, the couple moved to Pittsburg, KS, and began raising a family. Jody worked with Balley’s Arcade and enjoyed volunteering with the Baker Fire Department, prior to moving to Joplin in 1997. For the past 15 years, Jody worked as a truck driver for Tamko Building Products (Newman Road).

His favorite pastime was being with his wife, children, and grandchildren. In addition to being a great husband, Dad and PaPa, Jody enjoyed camping and trout fishing at Roaring River State Park in Cassville, MO. Jody loved a good practical joke and those who knew him, knew to always be on their toes!

Jody is remembered with love by his wife Tina of 38 years; two sons, Kyle Burgess and his wife Kyndra of Pittsburg, KS, and Kraig Burgess and his wife Ashlie of Tulsa, OK; daughter Kayla Burgess of Joplin, MO; mother Martha Monroe of Leadville, CO; step-mother Jan Burgess of Joplin, MO; sister Vicky Parks of Centennial, CO; step-sister Michelle Simms of Carl Junction, MO; 6 grandchildren, Baylee Burgess, Elle Burgess, Alexandria Burgess, Jett Burgess, Wren Biggers, and Opal Biggers; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father Jerry Burgess of Joplin, MO.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, April 5 at 12:30 p.m. at the Derfelt Funeral Home in Galena, KS. Private burial will be held at a later date.

The family would like to honor Jody’s life and love of the outdoors by placing a memorial on his behalf at Roaring River State Park. In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to be a part of this legacy gift for Jody by making a donation. Checks may be made out to "Tina Burgess for Jody Burgess Memorial.”


“A well-lived life doesn’t cease when the body does; the reflections of that life continue on in the faces and futures of those we’ve loved.”