Gaylord Craig Patrick Burrows

Funeral services for Gaylord Craig Patrick Burrows, of Monroe, LA, will be held at 12:00 P.M. on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, proceeded by visitation from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. at Covenant Presbyterian Church with The Reverend John Mabray and Reverend Johnathan Wagner officiating. Interment will follow at Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery with Reverend Nicholas Duncan of Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic Church officiating.

Gaylord was born September 29, 1943, and passed away on October 1, 2023. He was preceded in death by his parents, Telfor George Burrows and Beryl Richardson Burrows. 

He is survived by his sons from his first wife Deborah, Craig Patrick Burrows, and Sean Christopher Burrows and wife Molly; stepchildren; Kathy Tucker Bogert and husband Bill, Elizabeth Tucker Wust and husband John, and David Grant Tucker; 8 grandchildren, Hayden Anne Burrows, Skylar Kate Burrows, Michael Tucker Bogert (Maddy), David James Bogert, Anna Claire Bogert, Kathryn Livaudais Wust McBroom (Benjamin), Linnea Elizabeth Wust, and George Phillip Wust; and great grandson, Hugo Chrisopher Bogert. He also leaves behind his loving wife of the last 23 years, Emily Ensminger Burrows.

Gaylord was born in Saugor, India in the foothills of the Himalayas. His early education was at Mt Abu, India and then Kampala, Uganda. He started college in Electrical Engineering at Manchester University in England. He continued his education at Eastern Illinois University after receiving a golf scholarship and graduated in the spring of 1973 with a degree in Health and Physical Education. A quick study in sports, he played on the tennis, soccer and football teams along with golf. He was inducted into the Eastern Illinois Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013.

Gaylord started playing golf in 1967 in East Africa at the age of 23. After showing success, he traveled to the United States to Eastern Illinois. He was an All-American for 2 straight years as well as taking home the 1972 NAIA Men’s Golf Championship title. After college, he earned exempt status on the Asian Tour, and played on the European Tour and in Australia. His biggest professional accomplishment came at the 1977 British Open at Turnberry in which he finished in the top 26. Aside from numerous course records around the world, he also shot 60 many times, nearly reaching 59, and had 21 hole-in-ones.

His golf career mainly came to an end after a 1996 near-fatal auto accident. After his recovery, he played as an amateur, competing in some local tournaments around Louisiana. He remained an avid sportsman, enjoying fishing, golf and poker with his friends.

Some of his social organizations included The Bayou DeSiard Country Club, and Covenant Presbyterian Church. He was also an avid supporter of the ULM Golf program. He taught at Minnie Ruffin Elementary school.

Memorials may be made to Covenant Presbyterian Church or to ULM Golf (700 University Ave. Monroe, LA 71209) in memory of Gaylord Burrows to be used for golf scholarships.

Pallbearers will be Chuck Lee, Stephen Myers, Jackie Clowers, James Osborne, Henry Cole, and Freddie Nolan.  

Honorary Pallbearers: All who ever golfed, fished or played poker with Gaylord.