Joel Benton Burr Jr

Joel B. Burr, 87, after a long and productive life, passed away on October 26, of natural causes in Farmington, NM at the age of 87.
Joel was born November 13, 1929 in Clovis, NM to a pioneering family that came to Vaughn, NM in 1906 in a covered wagon. His Great Uncle Aaron Clark was the first person to be buried in the Vaughn Cemetery in 1907, having frozen to death in a blizzard hunting antelope on the New Mexico prairies surrounding Vaughn.
Joel was one of two sons born to a union consisting of Joel B. Burr and Josephine Carabajal whose family were early inhabitants of New Mexico, tracing their lineage back to Estevan Carabajal, one of Juan de Oñate's Associates, and first settlers in New Mexico.
Joel attended the public schools in Vaughn, NM and thereafter graduated from the University of New Mexico where he received a Juris Doctor degree in Law in 1956.
After practicing law in Santa Fe, NM as an assistant Attorney General for three years Joel started a private law practice in Farmington, in 1959 with the late William J. Cooley. The firm specialized in oil and gas law and through the years represented several major oil companies and many large and small independent oil and gas companies and oilfield service companies in the San Juan Basin.
In 1973 during the Arab oil embargo with oil and gasoline in severe shortage in the country Mr. Burr in partnership with William J. Cooley started Basin Fuels, Inc. a small oil and gas exploration and production company in Farmington, and operated the same successfully until Mr. Cooley's death in 1981.
Thereafter, Mr. Burr continued his operation in the oil and gas business in Farmington under the corporate Name of Burr Oil and Gas, Inc., which grew and prospered through the years into a Rocky Mountain operation with oil and gas properties in New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Wyoming. Mr. Burr remained active in the company in his final years although his son Sean oversaw operations as President and Chief Operating Officer.
Joel met and married Alma Patricia Jones of London England in 1962. At the time, she was visiting a girl friend in Farmington, and their marriage proved to be a long and fruitful one. A son, Sean Christian Burr was born of the marriage in 1964, and continues to make his home in Farmington.
Joel was an early member of the New Mexico Amigos and a lifetime member of the Farmington Elks Club (1747). He was also an early member of the San Juan Country Club and a member of the Evening Lion's Club, an active service club in the community.
Joel throughout his life loved to travel and together with his wife and many friends visited numerous countries throughout the world. In his retirement years Joel, an avid golfer, spent the winter months in Scottsdale, Arizona where he was an early member of the Terravita Golf and Country Club in North Scottsdale, AZ.
Joel was preceded in death by his wife Alma on September 25, 2016 after a marriage that spanned fifty-five years. He is survived by his only child, a son Sean Christian and his wife Lisa, two granddaughters, Ashley Nicole Burr, and Brittany Ann Kibel and husband Matthew, and two great grandsons, Jacob Laurence and Jordan Eli Kibel.
Cremation has taken place. Private family services are pending. In lieu of flowers the family requests that any memorials be made to the San Juan Animal League in Memory of Joel and Alma Burr.
Joel wanted all his friends to know that in his mind he had a great life, and would have gladly lived it over again if given the chance.
Joel's care is entrusted to Brewer, Lee and Larkin Funeral Home, 103 East Ute Street, Farmington, (505) 325-8688. You may share condolences with the family on our website: www.serenityandcompany.com