Olen Joseph Burleigh

Olen Joseph Burleigh, of Beaumont, Texas died on November 4, 20008 after a long illness in Houston.
Mr. Burleigh was born on May 18, 1921 in Grand Coteau, Louisiana and lived in Sulphur, Louisiana for 16 years, where he graduated from Sulphur, High School in 1938. In 1941, he married his wife Goldie Mae Perry, and they made Beaumont their home, and raised their daughter Kathleen.
Olen served in the Army Signal Corp as a Sergeant in World War II, and afterwards returned to Beaumont where he began what became a successful career as a Certified Public Accountant. The CPA firm of Burleigh McClelland Samuel and Hayes CPA firm became one of the largest, most prestigious firms in the Golden Triangle Area.
Throughout the course of Olen's life, he served on numerous committees, such as Secretary Treasurer of the Business and Professional Men's Club and the Texas-Louisiana District of Civitan, Int'l, and President of the Beaumont Civitan Club.
Olen was preceded in death by his parents, Bertha Burleigh-Thompson and Thelbert Burleigh; his wife, Goldie with whom he shared 50 years of marriage; Walter Sullivan, brother in law, and Bessie Mae Wright, Edna Lemmons, and Thelma McGee, sisters-in-laws.
Survivors include his daughter, Kathleen Gaddy and her husband Dave of Katy; his 2 sisters, Barbara Sullivan of Dallas, and Louise Holder and her husband Cecil of Houston; two brothers, Dalbert Burleigh and his wife Velma of Sulphur, and Clifton Burleigh and his wife Evelyn of Baton Rouge, and sister in law, Pat Collier and her husband Jay of Silsbee; three grandchildren, Christina Migala of Houston, and David and Stephanie Gaddy of Katy; along with numerous other nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to thank the Vitas Hospice group, and especially caregivers Cheryl Johnson of Brookshire, Linder Johnson, Shanaz Saga, Danielle Cook, Reverend David, Arredondo and Anna Palacios, all of Houston, for their many kind deeds and tender care over the course of Olen's illness.
Funeral services will be Friday, November the 7th at 11:00 am in the Claybar Kelley-Watkins Funeral Home Chapel with Father Jack Dinkins of Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Community officiating. Interment will follow at the Resthaven Cemetery in Silsbee, Texas. Visitation will be on Thursday, November 6th from 5 to 7PM at the Claybar Kelly-Watkins funeral home in Beaumont.