Mary Alice Burns

Mary Alice Helm Burns, 87, of St Louis, Missouri, formerly of El Dorado, Arkansas passed away on February 12, 2026 surrounded by family. Mary Alice was born in 1939 at Warner Brown Hospital in El Dorado to Lydia Jo White Helm and Edwin Jay Helm. Mary Alice spent most of her life dedicated to her family and to the education and well being of children. 

In 1957, Mary Alice married Bill Burns of El Dorado. Their marriage would take them many places. Some time was spent in Henderson, Texas where she was able to obtain a BSE in Elementary Education from Stephen F Austin University, graduating Summa Cum Lauds. Years later she received a Masters degree in Counseling from Southern Arkansas University. 

Mary Alice was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years Bill Burns and her sister Ann Helm Thomas. 

Mary Alice is survived by her brother Hank Helm of Destin, Florida, her double first cousin Lydia White Mattox of El Dorado, her sons John Burns of St. Louis and Paul Burns of El Dorado, her daughter Laura Morris-Burns of St Louis, 9 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.