Bruce Burrow

Bruce Burrow, 83, of Jonesboro died Thursday, February 26,2026 at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House.

A native of Wilmington, California, he was a commercial real estate developer who began his career as the first developer of real estate for Taco Bell. However, in 1968 he decided he wanted to leave the corporate world and start his own business. Since he enjoyed spending the summers of his youth visiting his relatives in the Lake City, Arkansas area, he chose Jonesboro as the perfect location to launch it. This proved to be a wise decision.

He successfully developed numerous centers with major retailers including Walmart across Arkansas and Missouri. His prized projects included the Mall at Turtle Creek in Jonesboro and the renovation of the Hilton Hotel in midtown Little Rock.

Bruce served on many local boards as well as the Arkansas Real Estate Commission and the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. In 2005 he was recognized as the Business Person of the Year by Business Today. He was greatly admired and respected nationally for his real estate expertise.

He loved his family, Cardinal baseball, antique cars, commercial real estate development as a self-described "deal junky", and had a special passion for the country and people of Cuba after having made 45 visits.

He was predeceased by his parents Mel and Willa Dean Burrow and his brother Deral Burrow.

His survivors include his wife Sherry, his son Ross (Terri Ella) Burrow of Searcy, Arkansas; his daughter Terri Ann Burrow of Cotter, Arkansas; his daughter Shelley Burrow of Phoenix, Arizona; and his daughter Debbie (Marc)Pierce of Phoenix Arizona.

His grandchildren include Meridith (Russ) Pierce of Jonesboro, Arkansas; Garrett (Danielle) Shatley of Jonesboro, Arkansas; Preston Pierce of Phoenix Arizona; Patience Pierce of Phoenix, Arizona; Madison (Travis)Brooks of Honolulu Hawaii; Leslie (Grant) Weatherford of Hunter, Arkansas; Shannon (Taylor) Mooney of Fayetteville, Arkansas; and Kaci Burrow (Drake) of Jonesboro, AR. His survivors also include 13 great grandchildren.

All services will be private.

The family request any memorial consideration be given to First Church of Jonesboro P.O. Box 602 Jonesboro AR 72403 and the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice Center of St. Bernards.

To sign an online guestbook please go to www.emersonfuneralhome.com