John, Julia, Jack & James Burgess

Early in the morning on July 4, 2025, the Burgess family of Liberty, Texas, tragically passed away after being caught in the devastating floods in Kerr County while camping on the banks of the Guadalupe River. Julia Walsh Anderson Burgess (39), and her beloved husband, John Louis Burgess IV (39), as well as their two young sons, John “Jack” Louis Burgess V (5) and James Littleton Burgess (21 mos.) are survived by their eldest child, Jenna Lacy Burgess (8), who mourns the loss of her parents and brothers.

Julia was deeply compassionate, constantly filled with joy, and sincerely loved her family and countless friends, “so much,” with her entire heart and soul. She was born in Roswell, New Mexico, on October 3, 1985, to Donna Soper Anderson and William Covert Anderson. She graduated from Lamar Consolidated High School in 2003, Texas Christian University in 2008, and received a Master of Education from Angelo State University. Julia had a passion for helping others and devoted herself to a career in education for over 15 years. She was deeply invested in her students, not only in the classroom, but also through various extracurricular activities, including coaching volleyball and the Liberty Prancers dance team. Julia was beloved by students across the state, and she was an active, passionate member of multiple organizations in their community, including Zeta Tau Alpha sorority at TCU, Kerrville Junior Service Guild, Junior League of Bell County, and Trivium Club of Liberty.

John’s boisterous laugh, loving nature, joyful spirit, and fantastic sense of humor lit up every room he entered. His deep love and compassion for his family and countless friends rivaled Julia’s. John was born on February 26, 1986, to Patricia Morris Burgess and John Louis Burgess III, of Waco, Texas. In 2004, he graduated from China Spring High School. He attended Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School and later became a chef at Yellowstone National Park Lodges and at a Michelin two-star restaurant in Southern Italy. After marrying Julia, John’s passion for serving others led him to join her family’s business as a fully licensed funeral director, supporting families through their darkest times of grief. To help families pursue financial stability, he worked hard to become a financial advisor and an accredited asset management specialist. In the fall of 2023, John proudly opened a branch office of Edward Jones in Porter, Texas. John looked forward to serving his community and families as a financial advisor. John served on the Board of Directors for Camp Allen of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, served as the president-elect of the East Montgomery County Rotary Club, and received numerous awards over the years as a funeral director and financial advisor, including Texas Funeral Directors Association’s Young Professional of the Year Award.

John and Julia met through mutual friends in 2005 while she was attending TCU. In April of 2006, they went on their first date, and over the course of the next five years, John and Julia’s devotion to each other deepened. On March 5, 2011, the couple married at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Waco, Texas. Throughout the course of their lives, John and Julia put their faith in God and their love of family at the center of their world. They were integral members of their church, St. Stephen’s Episcopal, with John serving on the vestry. John enthusiastically coached Jack and Jenna’s soccer teams, having never really played soccer himself. Julia filled their home and their children’s lives with laughter and light, and she was the embodiment of true grace, strength, and perseverance in her successful fight against an aggressive form of breast cancer. John and Julia welcomed friends and neighbors into their home and their lives as if they were family—never meeting a stranger. They filled every room they entered with joy and love.

Jack was born on August 19, 2019, shortly after his family moved to Liberty, Texas. He was a kind and loving young boy with boundless energy who was intelligent and excelled in school, winning awards for being the outstanding student in language arts, reading, and math in his Pre-Kindergarten class. He loved playing little league baseball and soccer and enjoyed the outdoors most of all.

James was born on October 10, 2023, a true gift to the family that lit up their lives in ways they never expected. From the moment he was born, there was seldom a time that he did not have a huge smile on his face. He was perpetually happy and easy-going no matter the situation. He filled the family’s hearts and home with joy. Both Jack and James adored playing with their big sister Jenna and chasing after the family dog, Daisy. Jack and James were Jenna’s pride and joy.

Julia and John are survived by their daughter, Jenna Lacy Burgess; their parents, Donna Soper Anderson and Patricia Morris Burgess and John Louis Burgess III; Julia’s grandmother, Mary-Lou Soper; Julia’s siblings, John Anderson and wife Jennifer, Joseph Anderson and wife Megan; and John’s siblings Kathy Esserman and husband Charles, Paige Cashion and partner Gary Porter, Ashley Weist and husband Tim, Leslie Jandrain and husband Jay, David Green, Laura Rhinehardt and husband Bo, and Patrick Green and wife Kori. They are also lovingly remembered by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, godparents, and godchildren, and they also leave behind their dog Daisy, who survived the flood and will guard and comfort their daughter Jenna.

Julia and John are predeceased by Julia’s father William Covert Anderson, as well as their grandparents Anna Ruth “Yonnie” Dahl Anderson and John Lockhart Anderson, Joseph William Soper, Magene Canaday Morris and Daniel Littleton Morris, and Mary Webb Clifton Burgess and John Louis Burgess II.

A funeral service will be held at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas on July 18, 2025, at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers honoring this precious family, a trust is being established at Amegy Bank and donations towards Jenna’s future can be made out to: Jenna Lacy Burgess Trust and mailed to Jenna Lacy Burgess Trust, 3639 Tartan Lane, Houston, Texas 77025. Donations may also be made to Bo’s Place, MD Anderson Breast Cancer Research or an organization of your choice.