

James Burke Morrison, MD, age 86, passed away on Saturday, November 16, 2013 in San Antonio, Texas. Burke was born on April 22, 1927 in Center, Texas to Jesse Burke Morrison and Blanche January Morrison. Being a true South Texan, he enjoyed many a bird hunt and cherished spending time with his family in Port Aransas and fishing the Gulf with his son, daughter, and grandsons. His beach home now stands proudly as the Port Aransas Museum. Burke was a healer of all living things and took great pride in his lengthy career in medicine, being "a serious advocate for doctors at a political level".
Burke practiced Internal Medicine for 64 years. He attended the University of Texas in Austin and in 1949 graduated from The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, where he met his beloved wife Sis. After serving in the Korean War in Japan and Korea from 1951-53 as a Battalion Surgeon in the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team (RAKASANS), he returned to finish his residency in Internal Medicine at the Baylor Program in Houston, beginning his practice in San Antonio in 1957, retiring from private practice in 2009.
His many credits and legacy include being a Diplomat of The American Board of Internal Medicine, a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, past President of the Texas Society of Internal Medicine and The Texas Academy Chapter of the American College of Physicians, serving on the Board of each of these organizations for many years. He also served many years on the Board of Directors of the Texas Academy of Internal Medicine and was President of The San Antonio Heart Association and active in the Texas and American Heart Associations. Burke was also a longtime member of Texas Diabetes Association and represented Internal Medicine many times in the Bexar County Medical Society and The Texas Medical Association. He was also a member of the Delta Tau Delta and Alpha Kappa Kappa fraternities. Burke was also a member of the Texas Medical Association's 50 year club.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Phoebe Jane Morrison; sister, Sarah M. Shaw; brother-in-law, Wayne "Red" Shaw and his beloved Doberman, Rocket. Burke is survived by his wife of 65 years, Jane (Sis) Morrison; children Robert T. Morrison, Sr. and wife, Kari, Leslie M. Vigini and husband, Nicola; grandchildren, Robert "Townsend" Morrison, Jr. and wife, Emily, Raleigh T. Morrison and wife, Cathryn and James "Stefan" Papakyriacou; faithful Bichon and best friend, Bobbie; two nieces, Jan Kirk and Erin Montgomery and husband, Keith; four nephews, Lee Morris Jolly and wife, Cathy, Robert "Van" Vandiver Jolly, Robert "Rick" Shaw and wife, Ann and Stanford "Stan" Wayne Shaw and wife, Cynthia.
Special thanks go to the staff at Heartland Manor Care Briar Ridge and the Methodist Hospital Emergency Room staff for their kindness and gentle care. In lieu of flowers, Memorial Donations may be made to The Gladney Center for Adoption, The Wounded Warrior Project or SNIPSA.
MEMORIAL SERVICE
TUESDAY
NOVEMBER 26, 2013
1:00 P.M.
ST. LUKE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
11 ST. LUKE'S LANE
Honorary Pallbearers: Dr. Ernest Beasley M.D., Calvin Bentsen, Louis Cooper, Brian Worden, Robert (Bobby) Nagel, Dr. John Mulrow M.D., Dr. Gordon Willey M.D., Dr. Joseph T. Painter M.D., and Mr. Terry Thrift.
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