Dewey Oliver Burkey Jr.

Born in a farm house on what is now Pates Lane in the Glenwood Community, D. Oliver Burkey, Jr. lived, studied and worked in Greene County for nearly all of his 90 years. On Saturday, September 6th, this good and faithful servant passed on to his reward.

Oliver immersed himself in volunteer community service for most of his adult life and his accomplishments are remarkable not only for the outcomes but also for his decades of consistent dedication. He devoted countless hours of his free time to service, treating the betterment of others’ lives as a joy, not a burden. The community felt the breadth of his work in countless small ways over many, many years. His gift was fund raising and management while his favorite activity was grass roots interaction with his neighbors across the County.

He was the last living Charter Member of the Glenwood Ruritan. He was the Treasurer from 1959-2011. He managed the advertising and ticket sales for barbeques and horse shows. Oliver was also the treasurer for Old Timer’s Days Association during the 1970s. During the 1960’s and 70’s, he was a Little League Coach for the Ruritan sponsored team.

From its beginnings in 1958, the United Way was blessed to have Oliver as a dedicated volunteer. He was the Greene County Chairman for 38 years (1962-2000). He was responsible for raising over $350,000, much of it personally, through door to door visits. Oliver Invested over 3000 hours of volunteer time and continued to visit hundreds of potential donors across the County until a few months before his passing. When his health began to fail, he relied on family members to drive him to visits.

Mr. Burkey was a Greene County Businessman who served his clients with high ethics and integrity. He was an agent with the Life Insurance Company of Georgia from 1948-1986. He provided personal, tailored policy service to Greeneville and Greene County customers from all economic backgrounds. Oliver served as president of the Greeneville Life Underwriters’ Association. Even to his last days, the children and grand children of his policy holders would greet him on the streets of Greeneville and in the hospital, with affection and respect.

The Orebank Volunteer Fire Department was another recipient of Burkey’s fundraising efforts. While Burkey was not a member of the Orebank V.F.D., he offered his help because he saw a need to do so. He was responsible for raising thousands of dollars for the Fire Department.

Oliver Burkey was a member of Timber Ridge Presbyterian Church, where he served as an elder since 1947. He was also the Cemetery and Building Fund Treasurer. Oliver was a regular Holston Presbytery commissioner and committee member and served 9 years as Holston Presbytery-appointed board member for Sunset Gap Community Center, serving children and families in Greene and Cocke Counties.

Oliver was a graduate of Tusculum College and a member of the Alumni Association since 1948. He was President of the Alumni Association from 1968-1972 and an Alumni Executive Board member for many years. He helped raise funds for Tusculum’s endowment from local area alumni and chaired the 1991 Greene County Tusculum Alumni Fund.

Oliver was a World War II Veteran, serving in the Pacific theater as a liberty ship gunner from 1943-1946. He was one of the last remaining Charter members of the Andrew Johnson VFW Post 1990. He proudly and humbly accepted a Quilt of Valor the day before his 90th birthday.

Burkey was a politically active citizen and considered voting more of a responsibility than a privilege. He encouraged and helped many to participate. He was a lifelong active member in the Greene County Republican Party and the 25th District Party Chairman for decades, recruiting election poll workers for the Glenwood precinct. During his last days, he insured that workers would be in place for the November election.

Mr. Burkey loved Greene County. He threw passion, dedication, and integrity into everything he did here. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dewey and Lucy Burkey, and his brother, Thomas Lynn Burkey. He is survived by his devoted wife of 60 years, Margaret Kentfield Burkey; four sons and daughters-in-law and 13 grandchildren: Kent and Kathy Yensen Burkey, Raleigh, NC (Jacob); John and Stacey Burkey, Bloomington, Indiana (Alison Burkey Hintz, Rebecca Burkey Zaborowski, Gwen Burkey); Paul and Ruth Burkey, Greeneville (Dan, Hunter, Ethan, Martha Grace, Thomas, and Nancy Katherine); Mark and Jennifer Burkey, Piney Flats (Amber Burkey Dowell, Emily Burkey Brandt, Jonathon Burkey) and 11 great grandchildren (Cameron, Callie, Sebrina, and Samantha Hintz; Dolly Ruth, Georgia, and Jonathon Burkey; Eliana and Gage Dowell; Benjamin and Ryan Zaborowski). Also a sister, Jeanette Burkey Cross, and sisters-in-law, Dorothy Kentfield Black and Josephine Susong Burkey as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Oliver's grandsons. Honorary pallbearers will be Rodney Bowers, Jimmy Lister, Harry Rader, Willie West and grandsons unable to attend.

The family will receive friends from 2pm-4pm and 6pm-8pm Tuesday at Kiser-Rose Hill Funeral Home.

The body will be taken to Timber Ridge Presbyterian Church at 10am Wednesday to lie in state for one hour prior to the funeral service at 11am. Dr. Brian Wyatt will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Timber Ridge Presbyterian Memorial Fund, 80 Timber Ridge Road, Greeneville, TN 37743.