Don "Steve" Burket

Services for Steve Burket of Tyler, TX will be held at Stewart Family Funeral Home in Tyler, TX at 2:00 PM Friday, July 5, 2024, with Mark Edge officiating followed by a private burial at Starrville Cemetery. Steve was born on June 23, 1941, in San Antonio, TX to John Maxwell Burket Sr. and Barbara Frances Barley. He passed away peacefully at home on June 26, 2024, in Tyler, TX. Steve graduated from Alamo Heights High School in San Antonio in 1959 where he lettered in football, basketball, and track. After High School, Steve attended Austin College in Sherman, TX where he majored in Government and attained his Bachelor’s Degree in 1963 and his Master’s Degree in 1967. He was on the Dean’s List all years and was the recipient of the Stephen F. Austin Fellowship Award in History and Government. He was a four-year letterman in football and a three-year letterman in track. He was a member of the 1959 Mineral Water Bowl team, named to the All-Texas College Football Squad in 1962, and was the recipient of the Gene Babb Coaches’ Player Award in 1963. Steve was a Professor of Government at Tyler Junior College where he taught for over 45 years. During his time at TJC, he was the coordinator of the Tyler Junior College Honors Program, a Scholars Academy Teaching Professor, a Tyler Junior College CASE Professor of The Year Award nominee, and a Piper Foundation nominee. He was a recipient of the Longtime Service Award from the Texas Community College Teachers Association, and the M.A. Baker Award for Teaching Excellence by a Master Teacher. In addition to his passions for athletics and education, Steve also had a passion for antique clocks and Horology and was a longtime member of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors. Steve was preceded in death by his beloved wife of over fifty years Alice Faye Burket, his mother and father John Maxwell Burket Sr. and Barbara Frances Burket, his brother John Maxwell Burket Jr, and Sister-in-Law Doris Maxine Burket. He is survived by his son John Alvie Burket, Granddaughter Maura Allison Burket, Sister-in Law Jon Carole Gilbreath , nieces Alice Michelle Gilbreath and Kay Gilbert all of Tyler TX, nephew Morgan Burket of College Station, TX, as well as many extended family members and cherished friends. If memorials are desired, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in the name of Steve and Alice Burket to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

Don "Steve" Burket

June 23, 1941 - June 26, 2024