Vera Mae Finch Burkes, 96, of Monument, CO passed away July 19, 2019. She was born January 21, 1923 to Robert McGee Finch and Fannie Lou Brown in Esbon, Kansas. When she was three years old her family moved to Simla, Colorado, where her brother, Robert Norman was born. During the Depression Era and Dust Bowl they lived on various farms and ranches in eastern Colorado eventually settling in the Monument area. Her parents were strong believers in education and encouraged a life-long love of reading and learning which she shared with her children and grandchildren. The family enjoyed reading poetry in the evenings. In high school, she met Ovid Clark Burkes of Caradan, Texas who was serving with the Civilian Conservation Corps in Monument. After graduating from Lewis Consolidated High School, she was awarded a scholarship to the University of Colorado in Boulder, while Ovid joined the Marine Corps just prior to WW II. After she graduated from CU in 1945 with a BS degree in accounting, and after he returned from WWII, Ovid and Vera Mae married on February 19, 1946 in Houston, Texas.
Their first son, Robert (1949), and first daughter, Peggy (1951) were born in Denver, CO. During this time, Ovid started working for the Department of Defense, US Civil Service. His career would take the family around the United States and finally to the Republic of the Philippines. Kathy (1955) was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Richard (1960) was born in Amarillo, Texas. The family subsequently moved to Shreveport, Louisiana; Derby, Kansas; and Clark Air Force Base, Philippines.
During these years Vera Mae worked as an accountant, a devoted housewife, and a school teacher. It was as a school teacher, that Vera Mae found a vocation she truly loved. She believed the ability to read was fundamental to a successful life and loved working with early elementary school children. Vera Mae was devoted to her husband and children, as well as to her extended family. She especially enjoyed hosting and participating in family reunions. She was a great planner of camping trips and the family was able to visit most of the western National Parks.
After their retirements Vera Mae and Ovid moved from Kansas to Austin, Colorado (near Delta). They spent their time tending an apple orchard, gardening and traveling. Their flower beds, especially their roses, were legendary. Vera Mae’s strawberries were the sweetest and her strawberry jam was highly sought after. Vera Mae loved her collections of depression era glass and dolls and was well known for her vast and unique elephant collection. A lifelong cat lover, she usually had two or more cats in the house. Her last cat, Jack, survives her and is living with her son, Richard.
After 53 years of marriage, Ovid passed away in 1999. Vera Mae’s final home was at Bethesda Gardens in Monument where she proceeded to light up the lives of the staff, the residents and her family with her gracious and grateful attitude.
Vera Mae is survived by her children: Robert (Son Nguyen) Burkes, Peggy (George) Schreyer, Kathy (Larry) Pope and Richard Burkes; grandchildren: George B Schreyer, Samuel Schreyer, Benjamin Pope, Peter Pope and Betsy Pope. Vera Mae was very proud of her great-grandson, David Schreyer.
The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 11, 2019 at Monument Community Presbyterian Church in Monument, CO. Graveside services will be in the veterans section of the Grand Junction City Cemetery on August 12, 2019 at 3:00 p.m.
Please contact the family if you plan to attend the services.
Memorial contributions in Vera's name may be made to The American Cancer Society by visiting:
cancer.org or by calling 1-800-227-2345.
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