Iris Ferguson Burks

She was a member of Newburgh Presbyterian Church. Iris graduated from Auburn University and was a member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority. She began her career as a caseworker with the Alabama Welfare Department before dedicating herself fulltime to raising her three children as a devoted wife and mother. She supported her husband’s career as they moved from Mobile to Huntsville, Alabama, to Gulfport, Mississippi, then to Omaha Nebraska, before retiring to Pace, FL. She moved to Newburgh with her husband in 2006 to be closer to her family. While in Omaha, she was elder and pastoral visitor at the Presbyterian Church of the Cross and became a Friendship Force Ambassador, which took her all over the world. In her retirement, she became a watercolor artist. Throughout her life, she was a devoted wife, mother, and friend who never met a stranger.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Basil M. Burks, Jr.; sons, Basil M. Burks, III of Canadian, OK and Barry F. Burks of Newburgh; daughter, Leigh Ann Reusche (Thomas) of Elburn, IL; grandchildren, Nadya Reusche, Matthew Reusche, Amie Burks, Katie Burks, Anastasia Reusche, and Laura Reusche; brother, Neal Ferguson of Jacksonville, AL; and her beloved schnauzer, Abby.

Services will be 11:00 AM, Saturday, May 18, 2013, at Newburgh Presbyterian Church, officiated by Rev. Kathleen Fox. Friends may visit Saturday, 10:30 AM until service time at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to Good Samaritan Home, 601 N. Boeke Road, Evansville, IN 47711 or PAAWS, P.O. Box 115, Newburgh, IN 47629.