Ellen Burks

Ellen M Burks (Reck) October 3, 1951-March 29, 2025. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 2, 2025 from 5-7 pm at Memorial Park Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held on Thursday, April 3, 2025 at 10 am at Memorial Park Funeral Home Chapel of Memories with burial to follow.

Ellen was born in Borger TX and moved to Amarillo TX shortly after. Ellen lived a very fun and active life with her friends and family. She graduated from Amarillo High School in 1969. Shortly after graduating she met and later married the love of her life Don Edward Burks on July 21, 1971. Don and Ellen were still happily married for over 53 years.

Ellen and Don could not wait to start a family of their own, and their children meant the world to them. Jonathan Dale Burks and Paul Michael Burks came into this world and completed Ellen’s heart.

While raising her 2 children, Ellen worked at Amarillo ISD and River Road ISD in the cafeteria to be able to be on her boy’s schedule. She continued to be employed there even after her boys graduated and finally retired after 40 years. Ellen loved all the children she got to see every day and all her coworkers.

After raising two incredible sons she got to experience becoming a grandmother. She loved her grandchildren and was always ready to mother them. Ellen was very excited to learn that she was going to become a great grandmother in the summer.

One of Ellen’s passions in life was creating crafts and selling them. She sold crafts for many years at various craft shows throughout Texas, Oklahoma and Arizona.

Ellen will always be remembered for her mothering ways. Any time you come to the house, she would always offer to fix you something to eat or drink. She would treat you like one of her own, regardless of whether you were being praised or in trouble.

Ellen’s memory will live on forever through her children, grandchildren and great grandchild.

Ellen was proceeded in death by her loving Mother Vera Reck Hall, Father Henry Reck, brother Howard Reck and various aunts and uncles.

Ellen is survived by her loving husband Don Burks of Amarillo, her children Jon (Brandi) Burks of Amarillo; Paul (Heather) Burks of Amarillo. Grandchildren: Emaly (Todd) Jansa, Brennen (Hayley) Burks, Zayden Burks, Bryar Burks and one sweet great granddaughter on their way, Rilynn Jo Burks.