In Loving Memory of Kinan Dean Burk

Kinan was born March 5, 1938, in Hollis, Oklahoma, to Norman Ligon Burk and Juanita (Cansler) Burk. Kinan enjoyed sports at Tulia High School. He was FHA Pin Up Boy, President of his class plus Mr. THS. Around 1956, Norman, Kinan’s younger brother, and Kinan won the Houston Fat Stock Show with Angus half-brother calves. By brothers winning Grand and Reserve Champion, with Angus calves in a traditional Hereford Breed show, they made history. Kinan also served as Chairman of 4-H for the State of Texas. After high school graduation in 1956, he attended West Texas State College for two years, then transferred to Texas A&M where he graduated with a degree in Animal Husbandry in 1960. Kinan planned on becoming a veterinarian, but Uncle Sam changed his trajectory. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and was deployed to Panama for 18 months where he served in the hospital seeing patients with minor problems. When Kinan returned to the states, he chose to go into farming. In 1964, he and his dad purchased land in southeast Colorado. He married Sandra Ruebush and they had two boys, Stuart Lamar Burk and Sterling Hilton Burk. While living in Springfield, Colorado, Kinan became an ordained minister in August 1970 and attended Sandy Soil Church of Christ where he filled the pulpit often. Later, Kinan went to join the

family ranch operation close to Raton, New Mexico. He loved snow skiing with family members at Winter Park, Colorado. His nephews and nieces thought he was part of their family. Kinan met and married his best friend, June Reynolds, on August 5, 1996. They enjoyed running their own cattle on the ranch. She was a true helpmate and enjoyed keeping the tag numbers and books on the cattle, almost naming each one. They worked together keeping beautiful grounds with rocks and plants to enhance their new home on the ranch.

Both of them enjoyed crafts and Kinan built some of their bedroom furniture including an armoire. She etched the glass doors with the Rafter 4 Ranch brand on spice cabinets that Kinan built for nieces & nephews. When the ranch work became difficult for him, they decided to move to Amarillo to be close to doctors. They enjoyed worshipping at Canyon Hills Church of Christ while in Amarillo. June’s son and daughter-in-law, Mack and Nobie Reynolds moved from California to Pittsburg, Texas, so June and Kinan decided it would be good to live near them. They found a lovely Independent Living home in Winnsboro, Texas, which is only 20 miles away. They have enjoyed their dog, Misty, for several years.

   Kinan is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Norman.

He is survived by his wife, June; his sons Stuart and Sterling Burk; his step-son, Mack Reynolds; his sister Brenda Campbell and brother-in-law, Jim Campbell; his younger brother and sister-in-law, Mark and Debbie Burk; and his sister-in-law, Carlene Burk. He is loved by his nine nieces and nephews, their spouses and children, and a host of others.  He will be missed by both family and friends.

Arrangments for Kinan Burk are under the direction of the Alderette-Pomeroy Funeral Home.