Dorothy Burks

We celebrate, Dorothy Burks and her long, rich, and very full life. We will hold her fondly and firmly in our memories for her unflagging optimism and strong life embrace, her deep love and sacrifice for family and friends, her devotion to God and His Church, and her stewardship to her fellow mankind.

Dorothy was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on November 10, 1922, to Louis Walter Kleinschmidt and Mathilda Maria Kettelkamp Kleinschmidt. Much to Dorothy's delight, "little" brother, Bob, joined the family in 1927. Dorothy grew up in St. Louis, attending Harrison School and Beaumont High School. After graduating from high school, she attended the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri, where she earned a BA in Business Administration in 1945. After completing university studies, she moved to Dallas, where she met James Lee Burks, whom she married at Oak Lawn Methodist Church in Dallas in 1950. Dorothy's four children, born over three consecutive years, were the focus of her unwavering nurture and love. Dorothy drew enormous strength from her beloved Sunset Presbyterian Church, where she served as a deacon and elder, and was active in Women of the Church. She also participated in the Oak Cliff Churches for Emergency Aid, distributed meals through Meals on Wheels, and drove breast cancer patients to appointments. After Sunset Presbyterian was closed in 1996, she found a welcoming home at Oak Cliff Presbyterian Church. Dorothy moved to Denton in March of 2001. When health issues made it impossible for her to live alone, she moved to Florida, where she spent ten wonderful years as a member of David, Sara and Charlotte's household in Florida. She moved back to the Dallas area (Lake Village Nursing & Rehab in Lewisville) in 2012, under the loving care of daughter, Vicki. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Burks, in 1987. Left behind to deeply mourn Dorothy's passing but celebrate her life are her children: James and wife, Sue, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Vicki and partner, Marshall, of Denton, Texas; David and wife, Sara, of Gainesville, Florida; and Sylvia and husband, Lloyd, of Belmont, California; her grandchildren: Jormel, Emeri and Charlotte; her brother: Robert Kleinschmidt and wife, Mary Jo, of Salt Lake City, Utah; her nephew: Tom Kleinschmidt and wife, Sheila, and their children, Karina and Cody; five great-grandchildren; and numerous other relatives and friends.