Willa Kay Burke

Kay was raised in Burlington, KY. She graduated from Boone County High School in 1966. Completed RN (Registered Nurse) training at the University of Kentucky in 1969, MA in nursing from the University of Florida in 1974, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at the University of Alabama in 1975.

Kay married Johnny Phillip Burke, Florence, KY, in 1969. They were divorced in 1971. They remarried in 1979. Kay and Johnny had two sons, Phillip and Peter, both born in Orange, CA.

Kay and Johnny lived in southern California, the greater Chicago area, Connecticut, and Las Vegas. No matter where Kay lived, she made good friends and participated in small groups at church. She was a caring and loving person. Her life-long struggle with Bi-polar gave her great empathy for those who suffered from depression.

Kay’s struggle with PSP (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy) ended peacefully on December 21, 2019 at the Nathan Adelson Hospice, Las Vegas, Nevada. Kay understood there was no cure for PSP, but she worked hard to slow down its progression.

Kay is survived by her husband, Johnny Phillip Burke, Las Vegas, NV; her son Phillip and his wife Andrea (Popowski), Las Vegas, NV; her son Peter and his wife Rachel (Flannery), West Henrietta, NY; four grandchildren; and two sisters Sylvia and Rita.

There will be a small memorial held in Las Vegas in March and another small memorial in Connecticut in April or May.

No flowers or gifts please. Donations to the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health (https://www.keepmemoryalive.org/get-involved) will be put to good use.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmcheyenne.com for the BURKE family.