Barney Burks, Jr.

Funeral services for Barney Burks, Jr., 57, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 5, 2018 at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Father Matthew Long officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Park East Cemetery, St. Vincent Ave. A Rosary and Vigil service will be held at 4:00 p.m. Thursday, January 4, 2018 at Rose-Neath Marshall St. with visitation following from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mr. Burks was born March 26, 1960 in Shreveport, LA and passed away on December 31, 2017. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Barney's love for all his ACTS brothers and sisters and the love for his church were close to his heart. He was an avid duck and turkey hunter and thoroughly enjoyed hunting and spending time with his buddies. Mr. Burks was awarded a scholarship from Red Ball Oxygen and attended LeTourneau University, where he graduated in 1982. Starting in 1982, he worked in district sales for Oerlikon and in 1987 became a sales manager with Hobart Brothers. He later worked at Red Ball Oxygen in 1989. He has been employed with SOWESCO in Houston, TX since 2004. Barney joined the American Welding Society in 1982 and became a life member after 35 years of service. During that time, he served many positions in the AWS Houston Section including chairman, vice chairman, board of directors, treasurer, secretary, and education and scholarship committee. Mr. Burks was preceded in death by his parents, Barney Burks, Sr. and Dorothy Burks and sister, Deborah Burks. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Renella Abshire Burks; daughter, Alexandra Cora-Marie Deal; sister, Claire Leeftink; and nephews, David and Gerrit Leeftink. Honoring Mr. Burks as pallbearers are Alex Kennedy, Jeff Jeter, Robert Jeter, Alan Jeter, Bill Borders, and Russell Stevens. Serving as honorary pallbearers are Gil Hartzo, Joe Rosalee, Raymond Liles, and Robert Shepherd. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Bill Kielhorn Endowment, LeTourneau University, PO Box 7333, Longview, TX 75607, 903-500-2972.