Alfred Burlew

Mr. Alfred Burlew, known as Al or if you knew him from New York it was “Bud”, age 73, of Portland Tennessee, surrounded family, passed away March 21, 2023.

Al believed in doing things his own way, never wanting to leave something to anyone else. In his last days he wrote the following:

“I have lived a very blessed life and believed it was on my own terms. Most people that know me, knows I came from a s small farm town in upstate New York.

The love of my life and best friend, Alice Marie, made me a better person and ultimately changed me forever.

I was blessed with 3 great children, Richard, Anthony, and Jessica; no one could ask for more.

To my extended family, I once read that your measure of success on earth was measured by what you left behind. I’d like to think I did ok. All hard working with good work ethic, but most of all, became family with their genuine kindness and love.

Faith, family, and friends will get you through anything. I could not be more proud of my family, also my friends.

Treat people the way you wanted to be treated, you will never go wrong.

Faith?

I have always believed we are put on this earth for a reason. When that purpose is complete you will be called home. You may never know what that purpose is, you never know how your contact with others will affect their lives.

YES, I believe in GOD, maybe I should have been more vocal about that.”

Al knew the secret of life; he would sum it up in 3 things. First, you need a foundation to build on, “The right thing to do isn’t always the easiest thing to do, but it’s always the right thing to do.” Secondly, you need to be someone that others can count on, your word is everything, “If you tell someone that you’re going to do something, you do it.” Lastly, when you find yourself trying to figure out how you were going to accomplish something, the answer is always the same, “You do whatever it takes.”

Fiercely patriotic, loyal to his New York Rangers and Yankees, Al lived his life with a sense of purpose. He would go out of his way to try and make someone smile, especially if he thought they were having a bad day. He would say, “You never know the power of a smile and the affect you have on someone.”

“If you live your life in service of others, you will be able to look back and be as blessed as I was.”

Survived by his children; Richard Kenneth Burlew, Anthony James Burlew (Tara); daughter, Jessica Louise Edwards; and his grandchildren, Chris Benitez, Sean Burlew, T.J. Carillon, Alex Copley, Rowan Copley, Liam Burlew, Raevyn Edwards; sisters, June Breese, Pat Colloran; brothers, John Burlew, Joe Marshall.

Proceeded in death by his father, Alfred Burlew; mother, Ethel (Bastian) Burlew; sister Kay Diedrickson, and the best thing that ever happened to him, his loving wife of 42 years, Alice Marie (Cundy) Burlew.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly request that donations be made to the National Diabetes Association, or to the Wounded Warrior Project, in memory of Al.