Mr. Arnold Ray "Pete" Burgess, age 79, of Dalton, Georgia, departed this life Thursday, June 15, 2023 at the local hospital. He was born December 25, 1943 in Cleveland, TN,  a son of the late Jessie and Elizabeth Green Burgess. He was also preceded in death by his wife Julia Diane Burgess, sons, Terry Ray Burgess, Robert Burgess, daughters, Connie Burgess, Tammy Hudson and Laura Anette Burgess, brother, Herbert "Buck" Burgess, sisters, Willie Blair, Jewel Hullender, Dessie Houlk, grandchildren, Dustan Hogsed, Amanda Hogsed.

He is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, Cindy and Grady Stokes of Rocky Face, GA, Sharon Burgess of Dalton, GA, Lisa and Mike Hogsed of Rocky Face, GA; sons, Tony Cook, Lamar Cook of Rocky Face, GA; brother, Verbon Burgess of Cleveland, TN; 18 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.

Service to celebrate the life of Mr. Arnold Ray "Pete" Burgess will be held Monday June 19, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. from the Ponders Melrose Chapel with Reverend Junior Williams officiating. Interment will follow in the Ponders Colonial Hills Memorial Park Cemetery with Derrick Johnson, Benjamin Johnson, Evan Hogsed, Brandon Stokes, Keith Stokes, Derek Bunch, Brian Cook and Lamar Cook serving as pallbearers. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Arrangements by Ponders Melrose Chapel, 138 Melrose Drive, Dalton, Georgia, 30721, 706.226.4002www.selectedindependentfuneralhomes.org and www.ogr.org.