Ouachita County Louisiana Archives Obituaries.....BURKETT, DAVID GARY April 26, 2012
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Gina Brown rootsgirl35@gmail.com April 28, 2012, 4:31 pm

News Star World - April 28, 2012
DAVID GARY BURKETT

Funeral services for David Gary Burkett, age 61, of Monroe, Louisiana will be 
held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, April 29, 2012, at St. Paul's Methodist Church in 
Monroe, Louisiana with Rev. J. Roddy Taylor officiating.

Visitation will be Saturday, April 28, 2012, at Mulhearn Funeral Home on 
Highway 165 N, Monroe, from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM.

David was born in Johnstown, PA on October 19, 1950 to Donald Ray Burkett and 
Nina Jane Burkett. He passed away in Monroe, LA on April 26, 2012, after a 
courageous battle with leukemia. David spent his early years in Johnstown, PA. 
Being the son of a schoolteacher who stressed education, he gave up his dream 
of playing professional baseball at his mother's urging and pursued a medical 
degree. That decision would define the remainder of his life. Mothers truly do 
know best as being a physician was his destiny. He received his B.S. in 
Biochemistry from Albright College in Reading, PA in 1972. He graduated from 
Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, PA in June of 1976.

After graduating medical school, David joined the United States Air Force 
which took him to Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas in 1976. 
His superior training in the Air Force from 1976 to 1982 prepared him for the 
career that was to come. Board certified in internal medicine, he began his 
career in emergency department medicine but soon shifted to pursuing 
Cardiovascular Medicine. He returned to school at the University of 
Massachusetts in Worcester, MS and UCLA School of Medicine in Long Beach, CA 
where he was trained in interventional cardiology from 1985 to 1988. After 
completing his training, he moved to Monroe, Louisiana in 1988 becoming the 
first interventional cardiologist in this area. While he was afflicted with 
many health conditions, first cervical spine stenosis in 1996 and then 
myelodysplasia in 2010, both of which affected his mobility, his drive and 
ambition always sustained. When his physical limitations interfered with his 
ability to provide interventional cardiac care, he propelled himself into the 
newest diagnostic modality of cardiac computed tomography. He faced adversity 
with a strong Christian faith even though the odds were against him always 
stating that he "had not yet begun to fight."

His greatest love was his family and his patients. He was a truly caring and 
compassionate human being and had everything required to be a great physician. 
He was born with innate knowledge which only expanded with years. He prided 
himself on the care he delivered to each and every patient. His motto 
was "treat every patient as if they were family." He sacrificed so many things 
to ensure that his patients were properly cared for. He displayed these traits 
in both his professional and personal life. His family always came first. 
Nobody in the family ever had to worry because David would ensure that all 
needs were met.

His care, compassion, and extraordinary medical care is validated by his 
patients, many of whom he has cared for since his arrival to Monroe in 1988.

Through thick and thin and in sickness and in health, he had developed a sort 
of marriage with his patients, which they and their family will never forget. 
David saved many, helped many, and comforted even more. His life will be 
remembered and celebrated by many for years to come. As a father of four, and 
grandfather of eight, he was the greatest ever imaginable. He provided 
unconditional love to all and family was the most important aspect of his life 
always. He was the rock and guiding light of his family forever stressing 
education, compassion, and leading a Christian life.

Left to honor his memory is his loving wife, Judy Isley Burkett; children, 
David Scott Burkett and wife, Ashley Burkett, of Monroe, LA, Laurie Burkett 
Smiley and her husband, Shane Smiley, of Monroe, LA, Courtney Burkett 
Schindler and her husband, Kevin Schindler, of San Antonio, Texas, and 
Brittany Colleen Burkett, of San Marcos, Texas; grandchildren, Taylor Alexis 
Smiley, Katherine Elizabeth Burkett, Camille Claire Burkett, Ella Scott 
Burkett, Marshall Henry Burkett, Benjamin David Burkett, all of Monroe, 
Louisiana, Madison Grace Schindler and Sophie Rose Schindler, of San Antonio, 
Texas; Uncle Philip Cook of Loysville, PA; and a host of cousins and relatives 
in Pennsylvania.

His parents, Donald Ray and Nina Jane Burkett; grandparents, William and 
Beatrice Varner Himes, Gary and Bessie Burkett; Aunt Joyce Cook; and Uncle 
William Hines, III preceded him in death.

Pallbearers will be Prentice Norred, David I. Burkett, Rick Pettis, Karl 
Kaufman, Beau Roberson, Brandon Huff, Bryan Adams, and William Harris. 
Honorary pallbearers are Sonny Sumlin, Doug Cook, Gus Campbell, Carl Aron, 
Mark Cook, and Tom Cook.

A special thanks is given to his office staff who are loved like family and 
the nursing staff of the CCU at St. Francis Hospital.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the good race, I have kept the 
faith. " 2 Timothy 4:7


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