Roanne Waggener Burton
Roanne Waggener Burton, age 87, a lover of people, flowers, and life itself made her final journey peacefully surrounded by family at her daughter’s home in North Little Rock, Arkansas on January 22, 2026.
She was born January 9, 1939, near Martin, Tennessee to Robert Frank and Relma Collier Waggener; they proceeded her in death as did her first born, Eddie Wayne Thomas, Jr. (Renee Clay). Her later years were enriched by her husband of ten years, Wooten Sale Burton.
Roanne is survived by her daughter Lynnette Thomas Gourley (Brent); a son Robert Wilson Thomas of Panama City, FL; her sister Sara Carolyn Stone of Chevy Chase, MD; her brother Robert Frank Waggener, Jr. MDIV, LCSW (Susie Williams) of Baton Rouge, LA; four grandchildren: Amy Renee and Laura Kathryn “Katie” Clay-Thomas; Bethanie Grace and Erica Faith Gourley; multiple cousins, nieces and nephews.
Roanne was a majorette and graduated with the Class of 1957 from Haywood County High School in Brownsville, Tennessee. She travelled living in VA to CA before settling back in TN marrying Wayne Thomas. They owned a cotton gin business in Koko, TN and had 3 children in 35 months. Crops failed all three years causing a pivot – moving to Cherokee Village, Arkansas.
Roanne was a homemaker enjoying living on the lake. She hosted fish frys and entertained. Summers were spent on the water. Kids would swim and Roanne pulled skiers behind their boat. Roanne later worked outside of the home for an optometrist. She taught Sunday School at Hardy First Baptist Church in Hardy, AR.
After rearing her kids, Roanne moved back to Brownsville, becoming single. Her life flourished. She worked for a local optometrist. She reconnected with friends from high school. This included Sale Burton who had “pinned” her years earlier when he was in college. They shared a mutual love for music and flowers and eventually married. Roanne joined the Brownsville Garden Club and the First Presbyterian Church where Sale was already a member. She was known for her ham on “bring a dish” Sunday.
Her flower ministry to the church was her heartbeat.
Roanne spent the last four-plus years living in the Gourley household. It took a village. Thank you immediate family members for your love, support and sacrifice; Don Gourley and Marian Botsford for your hospitality and kindness; soccer teams and your families for accepting and loving Nonnie as your own.
A special Thank You to our dear friends Allan Browning and Ron Michael for taking Roanne under your wings. Your Charity (Caritas) and acts of service are forever treasured – just as you treasured Roanne.
Thank you, Arkansas Hospice Family (Life Touch Health), for your unwavering assistance during Roanne’s last month on this side. Your physical additions of the hospital bed, supplies, and comfort measures made this all bearable.
A visitation will be held at Lea & Simmons Funeral Home in Brownsville, Tennessee on January 31, 2026 from 3:00 pm until 4:00 pm followed by a Funeral Service beginning at 4:00 pm.
As we celebrate Roanne’s life, please feel free to wear something colorful.
Final resting place will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Brownsville, Tennessee
Serving as Honorary Pallbearers are Bob Waggener, Eddie Wayne and Wilson Thomas, David Hogan, Brent Gourley, Allan Browning, Ron Michael, Bennett Dishongh, and Joe Filipek.
All arrangements and services are under the direction of the Lea & Simmons Funeral Home.
