Obituary of Peter Martin Burril

Peter (Pete) Martin Burril, 72, passed away peacefully due to cancer complications, which resulted in a brain infection. Pete resided in Wilder, ID with his loving wife, Cheryl, of 33 years.

Pete was born on January 19, 1947, in Boise, ID and was raised in Rockville, a small ranch community in Malheur County. He loved the ranching life and enjoyed trapping wild horses with his dad and getting into mischief with his siblings.

From first to eighth grade, Pete attended a one-room schoolhouse near the ranch. He and his siblings would ride their horses to school and one year they were the only students attending. He attended St. Theresa’s for two years before graduating from Bishop Kelly High School in 1966. He was raised Catholic and remained active in the Catholic Church his whole life. Pete didn’t want to be drafted into the military so he chose to join on his own. The day after graduating high school, he was on his way to the Air Force. He served 3 years in the Air Force and one year in Vietnam.

Pete and three friends started the Model T Club in the early 1970’s. He had a passion for old cars from an early age. He served as president of the club for one and a half years. Music was another one of his passions. He played at the Cattlemen’s in Silver City for 5 years. It was during that time that he fell in love with Silver City. In 1979, Pete and Dave Wilper partnered and bought a home in Silver City. He would later meet his future wife, Cheryl Ann Staples, there.

Pete and Cheryl were married in Silver City in 1985. Pete began working for the Boise Project Water Control in Wilder in 1986 and worked there until retirement. He met wonderful friends there, including a fox that enjoyed the hotdogs that Pete would bring specifically for him.

Pete enjoyed retired life to the fullest. He loved riding his 4-wheeler with his wife and friends. Some of his favorite pastimes were pitching horseshoes in his backyard, watching football games on TV, cutting firewood, playing music and tinkering on his old cars in his shop. He was always smiling and wanted to put a smile on everybody’s face. Without fail, he had a joke to tell and kept his family and friends laughing.

Pete is survived by his wife, Cheryl Burril; sons, Shawn (Jennifer) Powell and Scott Powell; brother, Bob Burril; sister, Helen Porter; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Fay and Janet Burril and brothers, John and Joe Burril.

Viewing will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019 from 5:00-8:00 PM at Flahiff Funeral Chapel in Homedale, ID.A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019 at 11:30 AM at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in Caldwell, ID. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Our Lady of Tears in Silver City or the American Cancer Association. Condolences to the family may be given at www.flahifffuneralchapel.com.