Elwyn M. “Al” Burnett

Elwyn Merle “Al” Burnett, 89 passed away peacefully on Jan. 31, 2026, at his winter residence in South Carolina. He was born April 26, 1936, in Central Lake, Michigan, son of Gladys James and Elwyn Morris Burnett.

He graduated from Central Lake High School in 1954 and joined the Army the same year.

Al married his high school sweetheart, Velma Payton and they had three boys, Gregory, Robert and Rodney. Finally at age 21, he could apply for and was accepted into the Michigan State Police. He was stationed in East Lansing and Newago, retiring as Sergeant at the Romeo Post.

Al joined the Pistol team and won many championships. After retiring from MSP, he went to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Brunswick, Georgia as a Firearms Instructor. During that time, he continued with shooting competitions with the Army National Guard. Matches took them out west to Hawaii, the Caribbean, and Germany. He was also an official at the 1996 Olympics and Paralympics with the Shooting Team.

In 1983 Al married Betty Brown and together they owned rental property and built a Mini-storage facility called Brunswick’s Space Place. Retiring from the Federal Government, the car was packed and it headed North, and back home to Central Lake. There he served as Police Chief for two terms in the Central Lake Village and taught Concealed Pistol License classes for many years.

He was a 32nd Degree Mason with Central Lake Lodge 426, Daytona Beach Lodge, Brunswick Lodge, and Aiken, SC Lodge. He was also a member of the Scottish Rite and York Rite and a Shriner. He was a member of the Central Lake Lions Club, Life member of NRA, the Bellaire American Legion, and the AMVETS in Central Lake.

His brother Jim (Morris) introduced him to the Single Action Shooting Society. “One Son of a Gun” and “Bargain Hunter” competed in matches in Central Lake and around the country for many years. The Cowboys built a Western town in Central Lake called EAGLEVILLE, where monthly matches were held from May thru October.

Al always had an old car or two. Some strictly for transportation and many for pure pleasure and of course Car Shows. And, they were always polished and shiny!

Surviving is his wife Betty of 43 years, his sons Greg (Tami) Burnett of Litchfield, MI, Bob (Cindy) Burnett of Siesta Key, FL, Rod (Laura) Burnett of Brunswick, GA, and John (JoAnn) Davis of Springport, MI, nine grandchildren, fourteen great grandchildren, 5 great great grandchildren with one on the way, a niece Michelle Gasca Tarver and nephew James (Jimmy) Richard Burnett.

He is preceded in death by his parents Elwyn and Gladys, sister Mary Margaret, and brother Morris James Burnett.

A Memorial and Celebration of Life with military honors will be held at 12 Noon on Saturday, June 13th at the Blue Pelican Inn, in Central Lake, with a time for sharing memories and light lunch to follow until 4 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Congregational Church of Central Lake, where he was a member all his life or to the Bellaire Masonic Lodge 398.

Arrangements are in the care of the Central Lake Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes. Please sign his online guestbook www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com