Billy Joe Burleson

Billy Joe Burleson, 83, of Spruce Pine, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on the evening of March 10, 2026, at Mission Hospital in Asheville. Born on January 5, 1943, in Mitchell County, he was the son of the late Texie Queen Burleson.

Preceded in death by his mother and his siblings—brothers Calvin, Jim, Frank, and Richard Burleson, and sisters Cynthia Spratt and Hortense Burleson Biddix—Billy is survived by his wife of 63 years, Linda Short Burleson; his daughters, Lynn Honeycutt and Michelle Harris; his grandchildren, Courtney Honeycutt and Ryan Harris; and many loving nieces and nephews.

A retired employee of Baxter Healthcare Corporation, Billy found great pleasure in yearly family trips and in simply being together with those he loved. He enjoyed playing golf, tending his garden, camping, and maintaining a lifelong appreciation for cars. Above all, he cherished his family, and his deepest joy was the enduring love he shared with his wife, Linda.

He will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, and grandfather whose quiet strength and gentle presence left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him.