CHARLES LEE "Sonny" BURCKS, Age 79, a resident of Charleston, died Friday, May 20, 2011 at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston.

Born August 12, 1931, in rural Charleston, to the late Charles C. Burcks and Penny Boitnott Burcks Belk, he had lived in Mississippi County his entire life and was a 1951 graduate of St. Henry Catholic High School in Charleston. At age 17, he began a career of over 40 years as a meatcutter by working on weekends and after school at Barkett's Supermarket in Charleston until he was drafted in the U.S. Army in 1952, serving one year in the Korean Conflict. Upon his discharge from the Army, he rejoined Barketts, who sold to National Food and remained there a half of a year. He then went to work at Barkett's Big Star where he worked from 1958 to 1972 as head meatcutter. In 1972 he joined Sikeston IGA as head meatcutter and remained there until 1988. From 1989 until 1995 he was employed with Gates Rubber Company in Charleston. In his spare time, he did appliance and air conditioner repair for over 30 years until ill health forced his retirement. He was a member of New Bethel Baptist Church in rural Charleston.

On May 30, 1954, he married Carolyn Sue McDowell, who survives of the home.

Also surviving are: three daughters and one son in law, Vicki Stark of Matthews, MO; Kathy Sue and Jim McGhee of Jefferson City, MO and Dianne Switzer of Charleston; three brothers and sisters in law, Bill and Helen Belk of Winslow, OR; James and Carol Belk of East Prairie and David and Carolyn Belk of Diehlstadt; two sisters and brothers in law, Wilma Jean and Kenneth Bartlett of Scott City and Faye and John Moxley of rural Charleston; six grandchildren, Catherine (David) Malugen of Herculaneum, MO; Stephen (Beth) Stark of Ft. Myers, FL; Dan (Brandy) Haney, Rick (Kelly) Haney and John (Rachel) Haney all of Jefferson City, MO and Brittany Switzer of East Prairie; eight great grandchildren, Abby, Ellie and Lilly Malugen all of Herculaneum; Vivian Lee Stark of Ft. Myers, FL; Hayden, Levi, Saylor and Jordyn Haney all of Jefferson City, MO.

He was preceded in death by one brother, Donald Burcks; one sister, Mary Jo Burcks and by his stepfather, Bly V. Belk.

Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Monday, May 23, 2011 at the McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston where funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 24, 2011. Rev. Ted Wimberley, pastor of the New Bethel Baptist Church of Charleston, will officiate.

Interment will follow in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery near Charleston under the direction of the McMikle Funeral Home. Military rights will be provided by the Missouri Military Honor Guard.

Pallbearers will be: his grandsons, Stephen Stark, Dan Haney, Rick Haney, John Haney; great grandsons, Hayden Haney and Levi Haney and also longtime friends Leo Schott, Bobby Schott.

Honorary pallbearers: his granddaughters and great granddaughters.

Memorials may be made to:
New Bethel Baptist Church
731 N. 407th Road
Charleston, Mo., 63834

Or to:

The American Lung Association
1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW; Suite 800
Washington, DC 20004