Martha Kerlin Burke

Martha Kerlin Burke, 87, passed into eternal life March 16, 2015 at St. David’s Hospital in Round Rock, Texas. She was born in Homer, Louisiana on August 25, 1927 to Orie Milton Kerlin and Lillian Bosley Kerlin. Martha graduated from Homer High School in 1944 and earned a Bachelor of Arts from Louisiana State University in 1948.

After college, Martha worked for Gulf Oil in Midland, Texas where she led an active life enjoying dancing and snow skiing with her friends. Several years later she met John Burke, a petroleum engineer with Gulf Oil, and fell in love. They were married in 1962 and established their home together in Houston where they had two children, John and Alison.

Martha often said the happiest years of her life were being a wife and mother. She was a ray of sunshine in the neighborhood, and created a warm and loving environment that attracted the neighborhood kids to her kitchen throughout her children’s growing up years. Her family enjoyed sailing together on their boat in Walden creating many fun memories for a lifetime. After her husband died in 1980, she established the John Burke Memorial Race at the Walden Yacht Club in honor of her husband, and continued to love and serve her family in amazing ways as a single mother. Martha loved to cook and entertain and had a true gift of hospitality, welcoming everyone including eleven pets she adopted and adored over the years as her kids were growing up. She lived a life full of faith and trust in God, and her commitment and love for Christ was evident through the love, joy, patience, and kindness that shone brightly in her life and relationships. She was active in the Assistance League of Houston, and a member of Pines Presbyterian Church.

During her later years she moved to Walden in Conroe, Texas and continued her involvement there through Walden Community Church and the sailing community. She loved being a grandmother, and her grandchildren describe her as beautiful and fun-loving, with a zest for life. The last decade of her life was spent in Austin, Texas, where she moved to be near her son and grandchildren, and was involved at Gateway Church where her son is the founding pastor.

Martha is survived by her son John Burke of Austin and his spouse Kathy, her daughter Alison Burke of Austin, two grandchildren Ashley and Justin Burke, sister Patricia Peeples of Houston and her husband Gene, five nephews and two nieces. Martha is predeceased by her husband John Charles Burke, her parents, and her sister June Kerlin Philpott.

A burial service will be held at Memorial Oaks Cemetery in Houston at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 21st, 2015. A Memorial Celebration of her life will be held at Gateway Church, 7104 McNeil Dr. in Austin at 7:00 p.m. Friday, March 27th. A reception at the church will follow.