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Pall bearers carry McKay Choy Burrows' casket down the steps from the Alpine Tabernacle in American Fork Monday, Feb. 8, 2010. Burrows and a mission companion died from accidental natural gas asphyxiation because of a gas leak in their apartment while serving a mission for the LDS Church in Romania. MARK JOHNSTON/Daily Herald

Mario Ruiz

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Family and friends follow McKay Choy Burrows' casket as it is carried into the Alpine Tabernacle in American Fork Monday, Feb. 8, 2010. Burrows and a mission companion died from accidental natural gas asphyxiation because of a gas leak in their apartment while serving a mission for the LDS Church in Romania. MARK JOHNSTON/Daily Herald

Mario Ruiz

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McKay Choy Burrows spent his last days preaching to the people of Romania, several of whom have come forward after his death asking to be baptized.

Dana deForest Burrows said at his son’s funeral Monday that his death while serving as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had touched the people in Romania. He related what James Lundberg, president of the Bucharest Romania mission, said at the Romanian memorial service Thursday. “The very fact of this tragedy has brought about a wave of compassion among the Romanian people,” Lundberg said.

Burrows, a resident of Highland, and his companion, Jace Edwards Davis of Logandale, Nev., died on Jan. 29 after an apparent natural gas leak in their apartment.

Elder Russell M. Nelson, member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the LDS Church, presided and spoke at the funeral. He told the family that he brought the love of the First Presidency and read a letter to the family from President Thomas S. Monson, President Henry B. Eyring and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. “Your dear son could not have been involved in a more worthy service,” the letter said.

Nelson also spoke on the eternal nature of life and that the Burrows Family will be reunited. He also said that this death is only sorrowful for those left behind, who can’t be with their loved ones.

“While we weep for the loss of this young man, on the other side of the veil there are tears of joy,” Nelson said. “For the Lord and for McKay, this is a homecoming. A thrilling and a joyful homecoming.”

President Howard Bangerter, Burrows’s former stake president, related that many missionaries struggle to remove their missionary badge when they finish serving. “He won’t have to remove his badge,” said Bangerter. “He will continue to serve as a missionary on the other side.”

Burrows’s father, Dana, encouraged all who are struggling with the elders’ deaths to press forward. “Do we struggle and give up or do we work hard and move forward?” he said. “We choose the latter.”

“Today is truly a happy and a joyous day, and all is well,” concluded Burrow’s father after referring to the LDS Hymn “Come, Come Ye Saints.”

Burrows’s sister, Naivasha, remembered the Christmas after Burrows was born. His parents put him in his baby seat under the Christmas tree because “he was the best present they ever had.”

Naivasha also remembered her brother’s concern for others. “He was always concerned about the welfare of others,” she said.

Burrows’s brother, Ashton, remembered Burrows through music, a language that is spoken fluently in the Burrows’s home.

Burrows was interred at the Highland City cemetery following the services.

Services for Elder Jace Edwards Davis of Logandale, Nev., also took place today. Elder Quentin L. Cook, member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, presided and spoke at those services.