Mary Lou Burkett

Mary Lou Burkett, 78, passed away at Howard Community Hospital in Kokomo, Indiana, December 8th, 2023 12:01PM surrounded by her children and grandchildren. She was born in Kokomo, Indiana on October 28th, 1944, to the late Basil and Hazel (George) Catron. On December 21, 1963, she married her high school sweetheart, the late Verne Franklin Burkett. Mary Lou graduated from Kokomo High School in 1983. Mary Lou went on to become a customer service specialist. She began her career waiting tables at the Eagles and went on to Bartend at the FOP and Grotto. She transitioned to retail and spent 9 years at Toys ‘R’ Us before opening the Kokomo, Indiana Meijers store and retiring in 2001. If there was an escalation her co-workers knew who to call for. She knew how to keep the peace! Mary Lou had two loves in her life; her husband and her family! Growing up on a family farm, she loved exploring the outdoors with her cousins, and playing on the farm with her animals. She loved spending time in the garden or flower bed with her mother and beloved sister Rosie. Mary said that the thing she was most proud of accomplishing in her life was raising her three children Tony, Tamara, and Jennifer. She loved watching her three children, and 5 grandchildren, participate and excel at sports. Summers were spent going to Softball and Baseball games while making time for the garden and swimming! Fall was spent traveling around to football games, to watch her daughter cheer and grandsons play. Winter was for making the holidays special for everyone in her family. Spring was for planting flowers and hunting for mushrooms! After retirement, she and her husband moved to Homosassa Florida, after spending many years vacationing there with their beloved friends. Coincidentally her Sister Rosie and many cousins lived in the same area! There, they all enjoyed the weather, seafood, outdoors, beaches, fishing, and swimming pools! One of her endearing traits was the ability to make people feel special. Because of this she had many dear friends. She loved playing cards, vacationing and talking about family with her girlfriends Jean Hoff, Taunya Andrews, Judy Mcguire, Karen Finster and Teresa Huntley. She was an acting member of the Red Hats and was the first lady of the Shrine Club. Many days and nights were spent alongside her husband helping give back to the community by participating and leading organizations like the Kokomo Shrine Club and Kokomo Grotto. Survivors include son, Tony L. Burkett; daughter, Tamara L. (Jon) Beasey; nephew, Paul Burkett; grandsons, Quintin J.F. (Nicole) Burkett and Raymond W.O. (Ashley Richards) Monroe; granddaughters, Brittany Burkett, Seaira D. Burkett, and Kassandra T.B. (Robert Satterthwaite) Burkett; great-grandchildren, Emma Walker, Elijah Burkett, Eden Davis, Edgeston Sauve, Mone’y Black, Raven Black, Jeremiah Hayes, Damion Torres, Brilynn White, Adaline Burkett, Abigail Satterthwaite, Atticus Burkett, Avery Satterwaite, expecting Wrigley Monroe; and great-great granddaughter, Miyah Ubi. She was preceded in death by her parents, Basil and Hazel Catron; husband Verne Burkett; Sister, Rosie (Catron) Warner; and daughter, Jennifer L. Burkett. Following Mary Lou’s wishes, there will be a public visitation at Sunset Memory Garden Funeral home, 2097 W Alto Road, Kokomo, on Wednesday, December 13th from 10:00am-12:00pm. The funeral will follow immediately at 12:00pm.