Mount Pleasant, Michigan James Robert Burley, Ph.D., age 60, of Hiawatha Drive, Mount Pleasant, MI, passed away Wednesday, July 26, 2006 unexpectedly at his home in Roaring Gap, NC. Dr. Burley was born September 7, 1945 in Kalamazoo, MI to Harold Lester & Dorothy Jean Housel Burley. Dr. Burley was a Professor of Marketing & Logistics at Central Michigan University. He has been on the faculty at CMU since 1975 after spending time at Texas Tech University 1973-75 and General Motors Institute 1968-73. His research interests include personality influences on job success, particularly as it relates to new product development and international logistical systems. His research has been published in many journals including the Journal of Marketing, Research and Technology Management, The International Journal of Physical Distribution and Materials Management, Industrial Marketing Management, and will be featured in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Product and Innovation Management. Recent research was awarded the "Outstanding Research Paper of 1997" by the Product Development and Management Association. Dr. Burley has operated his own businesses for 25 years in addition to time spent with General Motors Corporation and Ford Motor Company. He has been a consultant to Fortune 500 firms, completing over 35 studies for firms such as Dow Corning, General Motors, Slazenger Golf, Dow Chemical and Johns Manville Corporation. Dr. Burley has been active recently in video production with projects completed or in production featuring General Motors, Whirlpool Corporation, The Delfield Company, Slazenger Golf, Volkswagen and The Pebble Beach Company. Dr. Burley professional committees include; American Marketing Association, Beta Gamma Sigma, Provost's Committee on Public Broadcasting and the Public Broadcasting Senate Committee. Dr. Burley is an accomplished golfer in his off hours and competes at the national level in the amateur ranks. He was preceded in death by his father, Harold Lester Burley. Survivors include: his wife, Nancy Cynthia Wallo Burley of the home; three sons, James Robert Burley, II and wife Amber of Linden, MI, Joseph Lester Burley of the home, David Blaine Burley of Mount Pleasant, MI; his mother, Dorothy Jean Housel Burley of Gaylord, MI; a brother, Richard Lester Burley of South Boardman, MI; a sister, Susan Virginia Bufe of Gaylord, MI; a niece, Lauren Bufe; three nephews, Sean McLaughlin, Scott and Patrick Burley. Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 29, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. at Hodges Funeral Home Chapel by Dr. Jim Frazier. Burial will follow at Crestwood Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Hodges Funeral Home in Elkin, NC. A memorial service will be conducted at a later date in Michigan. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made at Central Michigan Universtiy, c/o Vicki Ebner, Department of Marketing and Hospitality, 100 Smith Hall, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859. Online condolences may be made at www.hodgesfuneralhomeinc.com Hodges Funeral Home in Elkin is serving the Burley family.
