Howard Wayne Burkeen, 79, of Tiptonville, Tennessee, passed from this life on Tuesday, February 16th at the West Tennessee Healthcare Hospital in Dyersburg Tennessee.
Howard Wayne (known to all as Wayne) was born near Dexter Kentucky on July 20th, 1941 to the late Paul Wilbur Burkeen and Treva Mae Burkeen. He grew up surrounded by family and friends in the Independence Community near Almo Kentucky. His mother often told the story that as a child, Wayne would say, “I love everybody”. He carried this philosophy throughout the remainder of his life. He was known as a kind and loving man to all that he met. He loved his God and his family with all his heart. He attended the Independence United Methodist Church as a young child and was a member there for 49 years. He is currently a member of the Crockett Chapel Methodist Church in Tiptonville, Tennessee.
Wayne married Marita Evans Burkeen on June 6th, 1964. She was “the love of his life” and they were happily married for more than 56 years. During that time, they spent very few days apart. Wayne worked hard all his life to provide for his family. He retired from the Fulton County Transit in 2007. He had also worked at Wiggins Furniture of Murray, the Murray Tappan Plant, Lovett Brothers Gulf of Murray, and the Dyersburg Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The work that he never retired from was his service to God and the people of the Methodist Church. His wife entered the ministry in 1986 and Wayne was her partner in ministry since that time. He was always present, supporting his wife, singing in the choir and volunteering for whatever was needed. Even when his health began to decline, he continued to be at her side. They served 32 years together in several United Methodist Churches in Kentucky and Tennessee, including: Storey’s Chapel, Fowlkes, Sorrells Chapel, Palestine, Cayce, Bardwell, Corinth, Tiptonville, Cunningham, and Crockett Chapel.
He is survived by his wife Marita of Tiptonville and three children: Lori Burkeen Dowdy (Richard), Larry Wayne Burkeen (Evelyn), and Lisa Burkeen Butler (Alan). He is also survived by 6 grandchildren: Laken Burkeen, April Burkeen, Ashlyn Jackson (Matt), Tiffany Dowdy, Jordan Dowdy, and Kaylan Mays (Nathan); and one great-grandson, Finley Silas Jackson.
Also surviving are nephews, Terry Burkeen and Timmy Burkeen, and nieces Tina Burkeen and Twila Lansford, along with many beloved additional family members.
He was preceded in death by his parents (Paul and Treva Burkeen), his in-laws (Ralph and Mamie Evans), his beloved brother and sister-in-law (L.W. and Velvaleen Burkeen), his nephew (Teddy Burkeen) and his grand-daugher (Taylor Jordan Dowdy).
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Independence United Methodist Church or to McDaniel Cemetery, both in ℅ Pam Collins, 267 Meadow Green Circle, Murray KY 42071.
Graveside services will be held in the McDaniel Cemetery in Calloway County Kentucky at 1:30 PM on Wednesday, February 24th. Rev. Kendrick Lewis and Rev. Richard Dowdy will officiate. Visitation will be held at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Murray Kentucky from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM on Wednesday, February 24, 2021.
Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, a Celebration of Life is being planned in Lake C