Carolyn Sue McDowell Burcks, age 85, of Charleston, died Wednesday, February 19, 2020, at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

She was born August 25, 1934, at Fruitland, MO, to the late C. Wilson and Mildred Tant McDowell. In 1936, the family moved to Charleston where Carolyn attended school at Eugene Field Elementary School and was 1952 graduate of Charleston High School. She went on to attend and graduate from the Steimle Business School in Cape Girardeau in 1953. She was first employed the Missouri State Crippled Children's Service in Sikeston from 1953 until 1956. In 1954, she married and stayed at home to raise her family until 1972, at which time she took a position with the Charleston R-1 Schools in the audio-visual department. In 1975, she took a position with the Mississippi County Savings and Loan, retiring in 1999. She was a member of the New Bethel Baptist Church, the Bridges Extension Club and served as a Girl Scout leader for a number of years.

On May 30, 1954, she married Charles Lee "Sonny" Burcks, who preceded her in death on May 20, 2011.

Surviving are her three daughters, Vicki Lee Stark of Sikeston, Kathy Sue McGhee of Jefferson City and Dianne Lynn Switzer of Charleston; her brother, Byron (Dorothy) McDowell of Charleston; grandchildren, Catherine Renee Stark, Stephen Alan (Beth) Stark, Dan Ryan (Brandy) Haney, Charles Richard (Stacey Bloomberg) Haney, John Randall (Rachel) Haney, Jr. and Brittany Lee (Jacob) Cissell; great grandchildren, Abby Claire Malugen (Brendon) Gilligan, Ellie Dianne Malugen, Lillian Grace Malugen, Vivian Lee Stark, Elizabeth Jewel Stark, Hayden James (McKenzie) Haney, Levi Garrett Haney, Saylor Elizabeth Haney, Jordyn Pearl Haney, Bentley Jacob Cissell, Blayze Lincoln Cissell and Briella Lynn Cissell; also, a number nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Kenneth Tant McDowell and Martha Lou McDowell Boone,

Visitation will be from 12:00 p.m. until the funeral hour at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, February 23, 2020, at the McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston. Rev. Jimmy Allen will officiate.

Interment will follow in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery near Charleston under the direction of the McMikle Funeral Home.

Her grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.

Online condolences may be shared at www.mcmiklefuneralhome.com

Memorials may be made to: John 3:16 Ministries, 75 Holmes Road, Charlotte, AR, 72252.