Donald Ray Burke

Donald Ray Burke, 98, passed away at home on February 4, 2025. He was born on May 9, 1926 in Oklahoma, close to the Red River, to parents Donald and Lenora Burke. He was the oldest of five children. They moved to Texas when he was 17 years old. He and his father worked at the shipyards. During WWII, Ray joined the US Army and was stationed in Germany where he served in the motor pool.

Following his service, he returned to Jacinto City, Texas. He graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science degree from the University of Houston. While working for Hughes Tool Company, he finally met the love of his life, Linda Miller. They married on July 20, 1963. Over the next four years, they were blessed with two daughters, Barbara Jean and Beverly Gail. During this time, he focused on building their family home in Channelview and his relationship with the Lord. He loved to stay busy working in the yard, going on cross-country trips with his siblings and their families, and being involved with the United Methodist Men. Before long it was camping trips, card games, and a second career selling oil field equipment.

As time passed, he welcomed four grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Life had never been so fulfilling. Ray and Linda enjoyed traveling across the USA with their favorite travel buddies: Don, Juanita, and Cheryl Callaway, Austin and Glenda Burgin, and Fred and Barbara Steffey. Ray was always ready to help anyone in need. He and his tractor moved trees off the street, pulled vehicles out of the mud, and tilled gardens. He could fix anything with whatever he had. He lived a life of service to his Lord, family, friends, neighbors, and the occasional stranger.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Donald Burke and Lenora Ward Burke; sister: Margaret Williams and husband Gail; brother: Roger Burke and wife Dixie; sister: Maryann Tinker; sister: Ruth Mercer and husband Jerry; brother-in-law: Jack Tinker.

He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Linda; daughters: Barbara Burke Johnson and husband Billy, and Beverly Burke Pirkl and partner Toby Barrington; son-in-law: David Pirkl; grandchildren: Karen Johnson Gutierrez and husband Chris, Travis Johnson and wife Cheyenne, Julia Pirkl Vasquez and husband Gerson, Chris Pirkl and wife Tiffany; great grandchildren: Scarlett, Andrew, Zachary, Audrey, Levi, Sasha, Little G, Carter, and Lacy.