Mary Eunice Burke, 96, was called home to the Lord on July 12, 2009, at the St. Luke's Magic Valley Medical Center in Twin Falls, Idaho, after a short illness. Mary Eunice was born in Marfa, Texas, the oldest of the four children of Charlie and Mary Bishop. She received both her bachelor's and master's degrees in English at Sul Ross University in Alpine, Texas. There she taught third through fifth grade, including penmanship, currently a dying art, for seven years.
During World War II, she taught for four years in her hometown of Marfa. She moved to Artesia, N.M., mid term of 1948 to teach ninth-grade English, where she met Hubert Burke, a high school Algebra teacher. Five weeks later they married. Their only child, Jimmie Aralena, was born the following year. After one more year of teaching at Central Elementary in Artesia, she decided to stay home with her daughter to enjoy being a mother and homemaker.
Upon Hubert's retirement, they moved to Carey, Idaho, to be near their daughter and her family. There she spent her time as a second mother to granddaughters Roberta Lynn and Jamie Sue while Jimmie worked. She also did some substitute teaching while in Carey. Mary Eunice passed along her love of learning and especially reading and always provided her loving help when needed. She referred to her family as her "jewels" and always treated them that way.
She had been living with her daughter since Hubert's passing in 2002. Her sweet smile, twinkling blue eyes, and sunny disposition will be sorely missed by all who loved her. Though in pain for the last several years, she very recently had to be hospitalized and decided God was calling her home. She decided it was her time to go.
She is survived by her daughter, Jimmie Aralena (Robert) Simpson of Carey; granddaughters Roberta (Martin) Romero of Kaysville, Utah, and Jamie (Major John) Spero of Newport News, Virg.; and one great-granddaughter, Maryssa Jimma Spero of Newport News, Virg., as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her brother, Charles, and her sisters, Delia Fowler and Evelyn Bentley.
The family wishes to thank the St. Luke's of Magic Valley Foundation for the compassionate care given her and suggests in lieu of flowers that a donation be made in her name to it or to the church or charity of your choice.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 23, at the graveside in the Carey Cemetery. Cremation was under the care of Wood River Chapel of Hailey. A guest book and photos are available online at www.woodriverchapel.com.
