Rhea "Eddie" Edward Burns Jr.

Rhea "Eddie" Edward Burns, Jr., age 70, of Knoxville, TN, passed away on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. Born November 18, 1955, at Baptist Hospital in South Knoxville, Eddie was preceded in death by his parents, Ada Lillian Yoakum Burns and Rhea Edward Burns Sr, and his son, Brian Burns. He is survived by his wife, Mayra Burns (Kodak); three sons, Scott Burns (Libby King Burns), Knoxville; Nathan Burns (Knoxville); and Bryan Osorio (Melannye), Sevierville. Daughters: Alie Montgomery (Davian) Houston TX and Rachell Osorio, Sevierville, TN, Kenia Osorio, Sevierville, TN; Jennifer and Waldo, Honduras, and 12 grandchildren. His sister, Teresa Burns Davidson (Jeff), Nashville, and his brother, Mike Burns, Tampa. Eddie graduated from Young High School in 1973; he graduated from Bryan College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management and attended Cleveland State Community College. He was raised in South Knoxville Baptist Church, where his father served as a deacon and is now a member of The Light of Jesus Church in Pigeon Forge. Eddie worked with Denso in Athens, Tennessee for 24 years and retired in 2022. Since then, he started his own business as a Notary Public and Certified Loan Signing Agent. He loved this retirement job because he was a people person and enjoyed helping people with the selling and buying of their homes in the East TN area. Eddie was known as a religious man and helped many of his high school friends through hard times by sitting with them and talking. He missed his call as a minister, but realized he could get his license to marry couples and has enjoyed marrying several couples across the mountains of East TN. Eddie also enjoyed tinkering with cars and driving muscle cars like his cousins. One of his greatest achievements was his marriage to Mayra, as they had 10 wonderful years together, built a house that had a great sunrise over the mountains, and a large family filled with love.