Edjuel "Eddie" Ray Burkhalter

Edjuel "Eddie" Ray Burkhalter, age 88, of Dallas, Texas passed away on Friday, February 25, 2022. Eddie was born September 8, 1933 near Whitewright Texas. His parents were Oscar Burkhalter and Frances Everna Ford Burkhalter. With an older sister, Norma Jean, they grew up in North Texas in the midst of the 1930's on the heels of the Great Depression.

Eddie Ray attended school during the second world war. He graduated in 1952 from Denison High School in Denison, Texas. He worked for Piggly Wiggly supermarts while attending high school. He would come to meet and marry Delores Jean Jones. This union would produce two children, Edward Ray and Deborah Jean. Shortly after graduation he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He attained the rank of Airman 1st Class and served stateside during the Korean Conflict.

Life was not easy for Eddie Ray. He lost his father when his father was only 49 years old. His marriage to Delores would come to an end with a separation from his children for a while. He was a witness to many historical events including the Great Depression, World War II, manned moon flights, the Kennedy assassination, Presidential elections and many, many others. He worked for many years during this time on his musical career and became a Nashville recording artist, which also included an appearance on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. He formed his own bands and eventually became a well-known and well-respected musician, night club owner, and rancher.

He had during, this time, and in times to come suffered some very life-threatening injuries and illnesses. However with his firm belief and trust in God, Eddie Ray enjoyed a high level of success which was on no one else's terms except God's. Some people couldn't wrap their minds around this concept and it became a very big advantage for him during his many business and personal dealings. He went through some very tough battles, with many victories and few losses. He would come to meet and marry Modree Williamson Manning, who was twelve years his senior and he also became a step-father. Meanwhile he also became Grandpaw Burkhalter many times over.

The battles were still ongoing however. He lost his step-son, Troy Manning, in 1976, years after he had been hit by a drunk driver, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. Troy had only been 15 at the time of the original accident. He had become a world-famous rodeo announcer. Then, in 1980, he would come to lose Modree from cancer on the brain. He had sold his ranch in 1978 and would soon come to sell his night club shortly after Modree's death. Retired, tired, and in pain, he went to the house and "stuck his head in the sand" as he liked to say, but God was far from finished with him. Then in 1986, he met Tina Shyanne Northcutt. They dated for five years because she was 32 years his junior and they wanted to be sure of the relationship. They finally married on September 27, 1991. They lived happily together enjoying their retirement, self-employment, family and friends in their Dallas home. Taking care of one another daily, through all things, challenges, and victories.

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~~Famous people born in 1933~~ : Quincy Jones 3-14-1933, Willie Nelson 4-30-1933, James Brown 5-3-1933, Patsy Cline 9-8-1933, & Conway Twitty 9-1-1933.

~~World News for 1933~~ : Adolf Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany and opens the first concentration camp at Dachau. The 21st Amendment was repealed (Prohibition) Dec 5, 1933. The Dust Bowl began in the plain states. President Roosevelt gives his first Fireside speech. Work starts on the Golden Gate Bridge. Lochness Monster is signed for the first time in modern history. The banks are taken off the Gold Standard. King Kong now showing in theaters. The chocolate chip cookie is made. Drive-in movies appear for the first time.

~~Academy Award Winners for 1933~~: Best Picture - Cavalcade, produced by Fox. Best Actor - Charles Laughton in "Private Life of Henry VIII". Best Actress - Katherine Hepburn in "Morning Glory".

~~1933 Prices~~: Bread - 7 cents a loaf. Milk - 41 cents a gallon. Eggs - 52 cents a dozen. First class stamp - 3 cents. Gasoline - 18 cents a gallon. Car - $550.00. House - $5,759.00. Average income - $1,409.00 a year. DOW average - 100.

~~Sports Headlines from 1933~~: Boxing - Primo Carnea defeats Jack Sharkey by a 6th round knock out at a Long Island City to win the World Heavy Weight Championship. Horse Racing - Kentucky Derby-Broker's Tip, Preakness Stakes- Head Play, Belmont Streaks- Hurryoff. Football - Chicago Bears defeat the NY Giants 23-21 at Wrigley Field NFL Playoff Game.

~~Local Headline News for 1933~~: Bonnie and Clyde on the loose with the Burrows gang. Columbus Marion "Dad" Joiner strikes oil 100 miles east of Dallas. Annual Fair is dubbed Recovery Fair. Beer is sold for the first time since the 1920's. Course of the Trinity River is moved west, levees built for flood control. Trial of Toy Wooley for murdering his wife is held, he was acquitted.

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