Burton O. Yarnell, 84, of Rocky Grove passed away from complications of the flu and pneumonia on Tuesday, January 6th at Sugarcreek Station where he had resided for the past 15 months.

Born January 25, 1930 in Canal Township on the family homestead, he was named after both his grandfathers, Orrin Rough and Levi Burton Yarnell.

The third child and second son of Ellis and Arlene Rough Yarnell, Burton attended the local one room Swamp School. After completing his compulsory education, he helped on the family farm and worked at Baker Sawmill.

He first married on June 14, 1951, Mabel Kaster (Fitzgerald), the mother of his children. They later divorced. His second marriage was to Audine Funk Dalmaso Forsell on November 8, 1975. She preceded him in death. Lastly, he married June Duncan Flick on June 6, 1981. After 32 years of marriage, she preceded him in death on February 6, 2014.

Burton was a self-employed dairy farmer for many years before joining his brother as a mechanic at Paul’s Mobil Station in Cochranton. After selling his dairy herd, he raised beef cattle and worked on John Deere tractors at Graham and Sons in Conneautville. He then worked for a short time for W.L. Dunn in Cochranton, and later retired after many years working for State Equipment in Franklin.

Burton grew up a member of the Deckards EUB Church, later attending Sugarcreek United Methodist Church, and for many years Franklin Wesleyan Church. He loved baseball, hymns, country music, fishing, hunting, puttering in his garden, and mowing his lawn. He also enjoyed woodworking and had a booth at Applefest for many years. He attended the Utica Senior Center and was a member of the Sugarcreek Social Organization.

He is survived by 4 daughters, Cindy Motter and her husband, Gary, of Titusville, Marcia Henry and her husband, Bill, of Espyville, Sharon Phillips and her husband, Shane, of St. Albans, WV, and Betsy Rhoades and her husband, Bryan, of Guys Mills; his step-children, John Flick and his wife, Patty, of Franklin, Paulette King and her husband, Ken, of Polk, Marshall Dalmasco of Oil City, Rose Sherrier of California, and Jack Dalmaso of Tionesta.

He is also survived by his sisters, Marie Baer of Saegertown and Mary Trimble and her husband, Chuck, of Rock Hill, SC; his brother, Darwin (Buck) Yarnell and his wife, Ruth, of Cochranton; his brother-in-law, DeWayne Shorts of Cooperstown; and his sisters-in-law, Joann Yarnell of Utica and Nancy Wood of Cochranton.

Burton is additionally survived by his grandchildren, Scott Becker, Rebecca Gibbs, Marci Free, Leah, Alicia and Cory Greathouse, Daniel Ferrell, Tyler and Jakob Rhoades, John Allan Flick, Chad Flick, and Tonya Durkin; 13 great-grandchildren; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

In addition to 2 wives, Burton was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Marjorie Shorts; his brothers, Paul, Fred, and Wayne Yarnell; and his step-daughter, Betty Dalmasco Foster.

Family and friends may visit Gardinier Funeral Home, Inc., 1315 Chestnut Street, Franklin from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, January 9th. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. at the Funeral Home on Saturday, January 10th with Rev. Jonathan Bell, pastor the Franklin Wesleyan Methodist Church, officiating. Interment will follow at Peters Cemetery.

To send flowers, cards, online condolences, or for further information, family and friends are invited to visit www.gardinierfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions in Burton’s name be made to Sugarcreek Station — 351 Causeway Drive, Franklin PA 16323; Venango VNA Foundation — 491 Allegheny Blvd., Franklin PA 16323; and/or the Franklin Wesleyan Methodist Church — 1337 Buffalo Street, Franklin PA 16323.