Tommie Lee Burks, Age 64, died peacefully at home in Shenandoah, Texas on April 23, 2024, after valiantly fighting five separate rounds of cancer over a 17 yr. period. He was a devout Catholic and his strong faith guided him through the long battle. He was born on an Army base in Germany to James Edward Burks (deceased) and Ellen Ellenore Burks (Denault) and was the third in line of six boys. He spent his younger days in San Antonio, Texas near Ft. Sam Houston before the family settled in Point Blank, Texas.
Tommie graduated from Coldspring High School in 1978 and attended North Harris Community College, before rewarding himself with a 1978 Pontiac TransAm. He moved to Houston to accept his first professional engineering job where he met Dawn. To this day, she swears he only loved coming to see and date her because Dawn’s mother would always feed him and send him home with food. After all, his pockets were slim because of his Smokey and the Bandit car note, which his father told him cost more than his first home.
One of Tommie’s biggest passions was fishing and he was considered a “bass slayer”. There was no fence he wouldn’t jump over or under if a pond was nearby, regardless of whether he was trespassing or not. He cherished the fishing trips to Alaska and Canada that were graciously provided by his good friend, Bill. His second hobby involved collecting autographed memorabilia and donating many pieces to charity to raise funds for cancer patients, specifically supporting the mission of Halo House. Tommie spent 15 years guiding Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts through countless merit badges and camping trips, which produced numerous Eagle Scouts, including his son Brian. Tommie also received both joy and pain from watching the Houston Astros 160+ games per year, as well as the Dallas Cowboys. He faithfully followed both teams, regardless of their success. Tommie loved Point Blank and his many friends growing up and into adulthood, including a visit from a few only a couple of days before his passing. Tommie was also considered “Mr. Fix-it”, as there was no task he wouldn’t tackle. He was a wonderful husband, son, brother, uncle, father and grandfather. He held the titles of “Pop” and “Pop-Pop” proudly, and affectionately loved being referred to as “peas and carrots” whenever associated with his granddaughter, Ella. The two were absolutely inseparable.
Tommie was preceded in death by his father James Burks, his father-in-law Vernon Blackwood, Sr., his mother-in-law Amelia Blackwood, his brothers-in-law Michael Blackwood, John Blackwood, and David Blackwood, and his son-in-law Alex Castillo.
He is survived by his mother Ellen Burks, Huntsville, Texas, his wife of 42 years, Dawn Burks (Blackwood) of Shenandoah, Texas, his daughter Candice Royer (Garret) of Conroe, Texas, and his son Brian Burks (Michelle) and granddaughter Ella Burks, Shenandoah, Texas.
Tommie is also survived by his brothers James Burks, Robert Burks and Danny Burks (Linda) Huntsville, Texas, Kenneth Burks (Annette) Lufkin, Texas and Allen Burks, Spring, Texas. Additionally, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins are left behind to mourn.
In lieu of flowers, Tommie requested donations of blood products be made to Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center or financial donations be made to the Halo House Foundation, Houston, TX.
Services for visitation will be held at Cashner Funeral Home and Cemetery in Conroe, Texas on Sunday, April 28th from 5pm-7pm, with a Rosary to be recited at 6pm. A funeral mass will be held at St. Edward Catholic Church in Spring, Texas on Monday, April 29th at 10:30am, followed by a procession to Cashner Funeral Home and Cemetery in Conroe, Texas for burial.
