Desma Nell Laster Burt, or “Tootie” as she was affectionately called by family and friends, was born on September 5, 1937, in Greenville, Kentucky, and passed away suddenly on May 26, 2025, after a stay in a rehabilitation facility. She was the oldest of 13 children and a proud mother of 5. She spent her life devoted to family, hard work, and unconditional love. She retired from Flynn Enterprises after many years of dedicated service and spent much of her retirement traveling and camping with her husband and their beloved dog, Peekaboo.
Desma was preceded in death by her husband, Alford L. Burt; her son, Eugene E. Cooke Burt; her parents, Woodson and Brooksie Laster; a brother, Curtis Laster; and three sisters, Betty Olson, Judy Alexander, and Kathern Fleming.
She is survived by her children: Sheila Wells of Oak Grove, KY; John (Patti) Burt of Colorado Springs, CO; Sandra (David) Willis of Hopkinsville, KY; and Cynthia Harris of Lexington, KY. She also leaves behind six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and many beloved siblings, nieces, nephews, and friends who will cherish her memory.
If you knew Desma, you knew she never met a stranger. She could strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere, and she often did. A quick trip to the grocery store could turn into a full-blown social hour. She had a gift for connection, for warmth, for turning strangers into friends and friends into family.
Her legacy is one of strength, stubbornness, laughter, and endless love. She was a mother, a best friend, a fierce protector, and the heart of her family. The loss is immense, but the love she gave remains louder than any goodbye.
Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Monday, June 2, 2025, at Hughart, Beard & Giles Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West at 2:00 p.m. Visitation will be 10:00 a.m. until the funeral hour on Monday, June 2, 2025. Hughart, Beard & Giles Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the American Lung Association.
