Mary Lee Burton, the daughter of the late Alfred Lee and Betsie Mae Whitenburg Taylor, was born in White Oak on June 9, 1931, and died at her home in Dexter on Tuesday, March 15, 2005, at the age of 73.

Mrs. Burton had lived in Piedmont and St. Louis before moving to Dexter in 1999.

In 1955, she was married to Harold L. Burton in Desoto, and he preceded her in death on Feb. 23, 2001. Also preceding her in death was one daughter, Deborah Lynn Laxton in October of 1999.

Surviving are one daughter, Mary Ellen Allen of Dexter; one son, Richard Burton of Dexter; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; four brothers, Doyle Taylor of St. Ann, Jim Taylor of St. Louis, Douglas Taylor of Jennings, and Jerry Taylor of Sunset Hill; and seven sisters, Pauline Swaringim, Rosemary Vaughn, Barbara McFarlen, Peggy Teel and Lois Alexander, all of Dexter, Betty Rutherford of Fredericktown, and Brenda Taylor of St. Louis.

Visitation will be held after 10 a.m. Thursday, March 17, 2005, at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter.

Funeral services will then be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday in the Watkins & Sons Funeral Chapel in Dexter with Rev. Daniel Martin and Rev. Kenneth Biggs, both of Dexter, officiating.

Interment will follow in the Hagy Cemetery in Dexter with Watkins & Sons Funeral Services of Dexter in charge of all arrangements.