Gary J. Burdette, 66, of Point Pleasant passed away March 15 at Cabell Huntington Hospital after a brief battle with colon cancer.

He was born February 4, 1951 in Parkersburg, WV to the late Bevan and Garnet Burdette. He was a 1969 graduate of Wahama High School and graduated from Marshall University with a BA in General and Biological Sciences and an MA in Counseling. He retired after 34 years of teaching science at Point Pleasant Junior High School and serving as counselor and work based facilitator at Point Pleasant High School. During those years, he spent countless hours creating props and drawing and painting backdrops for the Black Knight Marching Band competition shows and the Black Knight Revue.

Loving all things trains, he joined the National Model Railroader Association and became a Master Model Railroader. Serving as superintendent of the NMRA Coal Division, he worked to further both the joy of model railroading and promote the history and heritage of the railroads. The St. Albans Depot and Gallipolis Freight Depot renovations were among his many projects. A longtime member of the C&O Historical Society, he was editor of the Basement Subdivision, a modeling column in their monthly newsletter. Putting his modeling skills to good use, he authored the book "Modeling the C&O" which was published and sold at hobby and craft stores.

He was a member of the former St. Paul United Methodist Church and was attending Trinity United Methodist Church.

Surviving are his wife of 41 years, Janie Phillips Burdette, son Gary Burdette (Janna Skinner) of Lawrence, KS, daughter and son-in-law Anna and Adam Frazier of Point Pleasant, grandchildren Owen and Leah Frazier, bonus grandchildren Ewan Campbell and Liam Kepler of Lawrence, KS, mother-in-law Nadine Phillips of Point Pleasant, brother-in-law Mark Phillips of Proctorville, OH, special cousins Don and Charlotte Harper of Parkersburg, WV, special friend Bert the cat, and a host of train friends all over the country.

Visitation will be Sunday March 19 from 5:00 - 8:00 and a celebration of his life will be held Monday March 20 at 11:00 at Crow Hussell Funeral Home. Officiating will be Rev. Jim Kelly. Burial will follow in Mound Hill Cemetery, in Gallipolis. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Jude's, Shriner's Hospital for Children, or the American Cancer Society.