Joseph Bures

A much-loved husband, father, grandfather, son and brother, Joseph Edward Bures of Peachtree City, GA passed away peacefully on Friday, January 17 with his family present.

He leaves his wife and co-star of 52 years, Marcia Ann Bures, his two-in house productions (daughters) Jennifer Schneider and Diana Fuller, his favorite son-in law James Payne Fuller, his grandsons Grant Joseph Fuller and Talon James Hartsell Fuller, his sister Evelyn Hogue and her husband Jim, his niece Sharon Hogue, and his nephews Brian and David Hogue.

Growing up in Shelton, Connecticut, Joseph discovered the game of golf at twelve years old and it was love at first birdie.  The sport would play a central role throughout his life.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Ohio State University, Joseph served his country from 1958-1961 in the United States Army and went to Korea.

Upon his honorable discharge Mr. Bures furthered his studies at the Baylor University School of Law where he held the office of Mid-Law Representative, Student Congress and was a member of the Baylor School of Law Board of Governors.  After receiving his Juris Doctor from Baylor University he went to New York, where he began working at Screen Actors Guild.

In 1966 a leggy brunette, (Marcia) walked into Joe’s office demanding to know where her Frosted Flakes commercial residual check was, and his life would never be the same.  After a quick courtship Joe proposed and they were married soon after.

Mr. Bures then pursued his Masters of Law from New York University and was admitted to the New York Bar in 1967.

In addition to his studies Joe welcomed two daughters, Jennifer and Diana and had the opportunity to go to NBC and work in the contracts department.

Shortly thereafter he was recruited to the Business Affairs Department in Burbank where he started as Director.  In addition to being promoted, year-round golf weather was a huge bonus to the career move for him.

He would stay at the Peacock network through his retirement in 1997 as Senior Vice President of Business Affairs, having worked on deals for legendary TV shows including Wheel of Fortune, Unsolved Mysteries, Riptide, Frasier, The Wonderful World of Disney, Law & Order, ER, and Knight Rider. The late former NBC President Brandon Tartikoff even established the “Joe Bures Negotiating Award” which was given to him and handed out in subsequent years.

But no matter how demanding his work schedule was family always came first. Every Sunday he, his wife Marcia, and his daughters (sometimes reluctantly) would go to church, play golf together, and have dinner. The phrase, “Church.Golf.Lasagna.Repeat,” is widely known and celebrated by friends and family.

At his retirement party, those in attendance asked Joe what he was going to do next and he simply said, “Play golf six days a week.” Asked by another party-goer if he was going to get bored doing that every day Joe smiled and said “No.”

Joe spent his final years hitting the ball down the center of the fairway and spending time with his loving family.

A graveside service will be held on Thursday, January 23, 2020 at 10:00 am, at Salisbury National Cemetery, 501 Statesville Blvd. Salisbury, North Carolina 28144.  The family will be having a memorial service in honor of Mr. Bures on Thursday, January 23, 2020, at 12:00 pm, at Harrisburg Presbyterian Church,  4815 NC-49, Harrisburg, North Carolina 28075, with Pastor Jeremy Hyde officiating.  A reception will follow the service at Hartsell Funeral Home, 12115 University City Blvd. Harrisburg, North Carolina 28075.

Hartsell Funeral Home in Harrisburg, NC will be handling the funeral and burial arrangements.