Troy Lee Burgess

Troy Lee Burgess was born June 22nd, 1969, at Fitzsimons Army Hospital in Aurora, CO, the brother of Tammy Lee Burgess. A year and eight days later, he became the older brother of Terrence Douglas Burgess. Soon after Terre?s birth, the family moved from the Denver, CO. area to Missoula, MT, where they lived until moving to Fort Belvoir, VA. in the fall of 1972. In January 1974, the family relocated to Tripler Army Hospital in Oahu, Hawaii. Troy attended kindergarten in Waipahu, HI. and the remainder of Troy?s schooling was in Southern California where he graduated in 1987 from New Life Christian Academy. During Troy?s elementary school years, he accepted Jesus as his personal Savior and was baptized in the pool at Indian Hills Camp in Jamul, CA. During high school, Troy worked as a paperboy for the Blade Citizen in Oceanside, CA and at the Burger King in Camp Pendleton, CA. Troy graduated from business school and was hired as a security guard. In 1988 Troy joined the US Army. For the next eight years, he served in New Jersey, Virginia, and with the 1st Cavalry division at Fort Hood, TX. During his duty at Fort Hood, Troy was sent to Desert Shield/Desert Storm (1990-1991). He was assigned to the apache helicopters as a weapons technician. Troy moved to Chino Valley, AZ, following his Army career. He next lived in Prescott, Prescott Valley, Mayer, and most recently in Cortes Lakes, AZ. Troy enjoyed working with gems and attending gemology shows. He knew how to judge what kind of stone was in an ordinary rock before it was cut. Troy loved people, horses, dogs and wide open spaces. His dream was to build a  house on a large parcel of isolated land. Trips to Grampa Burgess? place in Montana  always included horseback riding with the family dog trailing along. In Oceanside, one  of Troy?s and Terre?s dogs pulled them on their bikes along the path by the river. Troy knew how to work with children so that everyone had a good time. During one family gathering, the adults were not impressed when Troy sprayed silly string all over the dining room, but the children enjoyed his antics. Troy?s main focus was to help people. He loved to see their happy and appreciative faces and to know that he made a difference in their lives. Troy is survived by his parents, Philip and Carol Burgess of Oceanside, CA, his sister, Tammy Rymer of Wichita Falls, TX, his brother Terre Burgess of Herington, KS, and other relatives to include 11 nieces and nephews.