Gladys Lucille Burke's Obituary
Gladys Burke Obituary
Gladys Lucille Burke, 95, died peacefully on Friday, November 22, 2013 at Life Care Center of Elyria. She was born November 21, 1918 in Vona, Colorado, to Ernest R. Liggett and Molly (Deves) Liggett. She graduated from Lincoln (KS) High School in 1936 and lived in both Salina KS and Horton KS before moving to Deshler OH in 1945. She was employed at the Deshler Flag as a word processor and writer of Home Chats, a local news column, for several years. After living in Holiday FL for 23 years in retirement, she returned to Ohio in 2007 and lived in the Abbewood Retirement Community in Elyria.On a blind date she met Merritt Burke, a soldier stationed at Fort Riley KS, and married him on September 23, 1942. They were married over 56 years before his death in 1999.Mrs. Burke was a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Elyria. In this and other churches, she participated in womens fellowship groups, couples clubs, and sang in church choirs. She was a member of various community social clubs.She is survived by her sons Lynn (Charlotte) of Chesapeake VA and Brian (Carol) of Wellington; grandchildren Amy (Andrew) Hudepohl of Monroe NC and Gary (Diane) Burke of Dallas TX, and four great-grandchildren. She is also survived by brothers Clarence Whitey Liggett of Australia, Earl (Arleta) Liggett of Salina KS, and Harry (Shirley) Liggett of Edmond OK; sisters-in-law Doris Liggett of Lincoln KS and Nedra Burke of Encinitas CA; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and siblings Thelma, Arthur and Ernest.Services will be at 10:00 Tuesday at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 330 Second Street, Elyria OH with the Rev. Wayne Brass officiating. Burial will be at 3:00 Tuesday at Woodlawn Cemetery, Deshler OH with the Rev. Brian Burke officiating. The family will greet friends in Deshler at 3:30 Tuesday at the First Presbyterian Church, 140 W. Maple St. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to First Congregational United Church of Christ or a charity of the donors choosing. Arrangements have been entrusted to Dicken Funeral Home.
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