Clifford Lewis Burke, Sr.

POLSON - Clifford Lewis Burke, Sr., 85, of Missoula died June 27, 2004 at St. Patrick Hospital of a prolonged illness.

Clifford was born on Oct. 3, 1918, in Gloucester, Mass. He served in both the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard. He resided in Polson, for 12 years and relocated to Missoula in May.

His interests were people, travel, hunting, and fishing. He loved the outdoors and Clifford had a wonderful sense of humor. He was also the self-proclaimed ambassador of good will for the State of Montana.

As Clifford put it, he had been everywhere in the world from Singapore to Berlin, Germany, and nowhere equaled the raw beauty of the State of Montana.

It was his sense of humor and kindness noticed by his health care professionals that impressed even the most experienced physician. Those traits will be cherished by them for the rest of their lives.

He will be greatly missed by all his family and friends. He always felt that God had never let him down, and we are all encouraged that he is with Him now.

Surviving are his wife, Eunice Calrie' Burke of Missoula; his children, Clifford L. Burke Jr. and wife Betty of Bozeman, Joseph Jeffrey Burke and wife Elizabeth of Flagstaff, Ariz., Debra Ellen Burke of West Roxbury, Mass., Gary Burke and wife Laura of Camas, Wash., and Kathy Lynn Burke of West Roxbury, Mass.; grandchildren, Craig Burke, Tevlin Burke, Ridge Burke, Elizabeth Burke, Joseph Jeffrey Burke II, Raevyn Burke, Darian Burke, and Ryleigh Burke; 11 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

The services were private as per Burke's request. Cremation was under the direction of Grogan Funeral Home & Crematory.