Joe Burkett, Jr.

San Antonio Express-news 

BURKETT  04/28/2001

 Joe Burkett, Jr., longtime resident of Kerrville, passed away April 27, 2001 at 10:03 A.M.  Mr. Burkett was born November 15, 1912 in Eastland, TX, the third child of Joe Burkett, Sr. and Fannye Pullig Burkett.  He is survived by his wife, Pearl Schwethelm Burkett; his son, Joseph W. Burkett, III and his wife Courtney; his sister, Dorothy and Colonel Gaston Alford of San Antonio; his nieces, Mrs. Patricia Currier of San Antonio and Genie, her husband Fred Cox of Fort Worth and Dorothy Dee Phillips of Florida; his nephews, Ronald Burkett and Gary Burkett of Phoenix, AZ and numerous cousins.  He is survived by his six grandchildren, Diana Burkett Kimberly of Kerrville, TX, Joseph W. Burkett, IV and his wife Rachel of Austin, TX, Judith Ann and her husband Christopher Magee of El Paso, TX, Hunter Leopold Burkett and Trapper Hays Burkett of Morris Ranch, TX; six great-grandchildren, Kristian M. Furbush, Sharon C. Cook, Emilie C. Kimberly, Michael D. Kimberly, Jr., Margaret Ann Kimberly and Haiven S. Furbush.  Mr. Burkett is also survived by his wife's twin sister, Ruby Edwards of Fredericksburg and another sister of Mrs. Burkett, Edna Reinhard of Boerne, TX.  Mr. Burkett was preceded in death by his son, James Arno Burkett, who died in 1968; by his sisters, Lasca Burkett and Margaret Ellison and by his brothers, John and Prentiss Burkett.  Mr. Burkett was educated in the Eastland public schools; at Abilene Christian College Academy in Abilene, TX; at Pecock Military Academy in San Antonio, TX; at Texas Technological College in Lubbock, TX and at Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN where he received his Law degree in May of 1933.  Mr. Burkett moved to Kerrville in 1930 and began to practice law in 1934, where he practiced until his death, a span of 66 years.  Mr. Burkett was active in local and state politics, having served as Justice of the Peace, County Attorney and County Judge of Kerr County.  He served five terms in the State House of Representatives.  During his tenure as a Representative, Mr. Burkett served on multiple committees.  Most notably, in 1955, as Chairman of the House Insurance Committee, he re-wrote most of the Insurance Code of the State; and while serving as the Chairman of the House General Investigating Committee charged with investigation of the Veterans' Land Board and its activities, led an investigation which resulted in the complete restructuring of the Board.  Mr. Burkett held the office of the United States Commissioner for the Western District of Texas and also served as a member of the Alcoholic Beverage Commission of Texas for seven years.  His public service totaled 29 years.  Mr. Burkett served in the Texas National Guard for three years and in the U.S. Army for four years during WWII, 18 months of which he spent in the European Theater of Operations as a member of the 416th Field Artillery Group of the 20th Corps Artilliary of General George S. Patton's 3rd Army.  He was awarded two Battle Stars for his service in the Battle of the Rhine and the Battle of Central Europe.  Mr. Burkett was a very active civic worker as a member of all four Concerned Citizen's Committees that led the way for improvement and enlargement of the City of Kerrville Sanitary Sewer System in 1971; for the building of the Kerr County Courthouse Annex in 1975; for the construction of the dam on the Guadalupe River which provided much needed water for the City of Kerrville in 1975; and for the purchase of the L.C.R.A. Electric System to provide for the City of Kerrville and adjacent areas in 1985.  He was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Hal & Charlie Peterson Foundation for 21 years.  The family will receive friends Sunday, April 29, 2001 from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at Grimes Funeral Chapel.  Services will be held Monday, 3:00 P.M. at St. Peter's Episcopal Church followed by Graveside Services at the Garden of Memories Cemetery with Grimes Funeral Chapels conducting the Service.  Pallbearers are Joseph W. Burkett, IV, Hunter L. Burkett, Trapper H. Burkett, Spencer Brown, Scott Stehling and Robert Moran.  Memorials may be made to the Hal & Charlie Peterson Foundation or St. Peter's Episcopal Church.

GRIMES FUNERAL CHAPELS

Kerrville, TX 78029 (830) 257-4544

Obituary reproduced with permission of San Antonio Express-News.