Mary Nelle Burke

She graduated from Chattanooga (City) High School, class of 1937 and Edmundson Business College and was an active member of Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church for over 80 years.

Mrs. Burke worked for the Chattanooga Free Press before joining the Navy in 1943, stationed in San Diego. She was the bookkeeper at Signal Mountain Drugstore, a kindergarten teacher and eventually the Kindergarten Director at Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church and president of the Chattanooga Kindergarten Council. In the summers she managed the crafts and concessions at the Signal Mountain Playground and Pool.

Mrs. Burke was the scout leader of Girl Scout Troop 206 for 8 years and later worked at the Chattanooga Girl Scout office. She was co-owner of the Smocking Cottage on Signal Mountain and in 1986 was selected as American Business Woman of the Year by the ABWA and in 1994 she was honored by the Signal Mountain Community Guild as Woman of the Year.

Mrs. Burke was a member of the Evening Garden Club of Signal Mountain and of the Embroiders Guild of America, Inc. in which she served as treasurer.

Mrs. Burke was married to Charles Edmund (Ed) Burke Jr. for over 58 years and is survived by a daughter, Janis Burke Speck, Reston, VA; a son, Charles “Buddy” Edmund (Wanda) Burke, III, Ooltewah; and four grandchildren, Richard Dewayne Burke, Charles Edmund Burke IV, Tally Carter Burke, and Ashley Burke Speck. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Louise Harris, brother-in-Law, William Carter Burke, and nieces and nephews, Mary Louise Harris, Shannon Scouten, William Burke, II, Phillip Burke.

The family will receive visitors at the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home (Hixson) from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday Feb. 13 and again Feb. 14 from 10 – 11 at Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church, 612 James Blvd., Signal Mountain, TN 37377. The memorial service will be held immediately afterward at 11:00 followed by internment at the Chattanooga National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church.

Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, TN.