Gerald Watson Burke, retired local agri-businessman and farmer, age 89, of Ewing, passed away Wednesday, June 26, 2024.

Gerald was born in Bourbon County on August 6, 1934, to Herman and Minnie Lee Watson Burke.  His family moved back to Fleming County the following year where he grew up and was a 1952 graduate of Fleming County High School.  He attended the University of Kentucky where he graduated in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture.

After completing college, he started work with Southern States Corporation, serving in many capacities until 1979 when he purchased the local Sears Roebuck catalog store and operated it until 1990, when he sold the store and retired to his farm.  Through the years he served on numerous boards and was a member of the Fleming County Livestock Association, the Kentucky Cattlemen's Association and the American Gelbvieh Association.  He was also an active member of the Ewing Christian Church where he served as deacon, elder, chairman of the church board, Sunday school teacher, and a member of the church choir and was named an elder emeritus in 2017.  He was a Kentucky Colonel, and was named a Master Soil Conservationist in 1998 which he considered one of his proudest accomplishments.

He is survived by his loving family including his wife of 71 ½ years, Lynn Gray Burke;  daughter Gera Burke (Barney) King  of Phoenix, Arizona, grandson Hunter (Aimee) King of Phoenix Arizona, Austin (Suzanne) King of Phoenix, Arizona and Ali (Kevin) Fink of Austin, Texas; daughter Barbara Burke (Raymond) Williams of Ewing, grandson Jordan (Cassie) Williams of Ewing, granddaughter Whitney(Arol) Ordaz of Nashville, Tennessee; daughter Jan Burke (Larry) Ingram of Ewing, grandson Chris(Megan) Ingram and Garrett (Cheryl) Ingram of Ewing; son Gerald Bradley (Tammy) Burke of Ewing, grandson Cody Burke (Jenna) of Frankfort, granddaughter  Katie Burke (Logan Moran) of Ewing; and eleven great grandchildren, Lily, Oliver, and Hazel of Phoenix, Hudson of Austin, Texas, Cooper, Bennett, and Isla, Sarah Jo, Joseph, Grayson, and Tucker of Ewing, and a step great granddaughter Aubree Lykins.  Also surviving is his sister Wanda (Don) Elder of Lexington, along with many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Helen (J.W.) Jones of Tampa and Wilma (Glenn) Timmons of Cincinnati, and grandson Brandon Ingram.

Services for Gerald Burke will be held at the Ewing Christian Church (1743 Ewing Road Ewing KY 41039) at 2 p.m., Saturday, June 29, 2024, officiated by Pastor Larry Ingram with visitation from 11 a.m., until the hour of service.

Burial will be in the Elizaville Cemetery.

Pallbearers are Austin King, Jordan Williams, Chris Ingram, Garrett Ingram, Cody Burke, and Jimmy Jett. Honorary pallbearers are Hunter King, Elzie Price and Bobby Campbell.

Memorials may be made to Ewing Christian Church  (P.O. 284 Ewing KY 41039)

Friends may offer online condolences at www.boonenickellfuneralhome.com