1930
Bessie
2017
Bessie Ann Durke
September 4, 1930 — June 3, 2017
Bessie Ann Durke, 86, a former resident of Orange and Broaddus, Texas, passed away on June 3, 2017, in San Antonio. Bessie was born September 4, 1930 in Orange, Texas to Levie Bourgeois. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Vernon W. Durke Jr., and her siblings Margaret, Earl, Lula, Hilda, and Lilly.
She is survived by her sister Mary Lou Hebert of Bridge City, her sons and their wives, Vernon W. Durke III and Kay Warhol of Houston, Stephen and Martha Durke of San Antonio, and Larry and Sue Durke of Coatesville, PA; grandchildren and their spouses Christine Durke, David Durke of San Antonio, Bryce Durke and his wife Emily Durke of Denver, CO; Erin Durke and her husband Jason Edmonds of Conowingo, MD, and great-grandchildren Max, Rosemary, Grace, and Hayden.
Bessie and her husband Vernon built and operated two restaurants in Orange, while raising three boys. They owned and operated a sandwich shop outside the Livingston Shipyard for many years before opening Durke's Burger in 1969. While Vernon worked at DuPont, Bess managed both businesses. After Vernon retired from DuPont, they sold the restaurants, traveled the US and Canada in their camper, and built a home on Lake Sam Rayburn at Powell Point. Bessie was a warm, energetic person, well-liked among the circle of friends with whom she and Vernon socialized and traveled. She’s remembered with great affection by her sons, daughter in-laws, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
Her positive nature and love for life are traits she passed on to her family and all who knew her. Everyone who spent time with her appreciated her selflessness, wisdom and kindness. Her friends loved her, her family adored her and she will be forever missed.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 A.M., Saturday, June 10, 2017, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Orange. Officiating will be Father Joseph P. Daleo of St. Mary Catholic Church. Entombment will follow at St. Mary Cemetery in Orange.
Visitation will be from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Friday, June 9, 2017, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.
She is survived by her sister Mary Lou Hebert of Bridge City, her sons and their wives, Vernon W. Durke III and Kay Warhol of Houston, Stephen and Martha Durke of San Antonio, and Larry and Sue Durke of Coatesville, PA; grandchildren and their spouses Christine Durke, David Durke of San Antonio, Bryce Durke and his wife Emily Durke of Denver, CO; Erin Durke and her husband Jason Edmonds of Conowingo, MD, and great-grandchildren Max, Rosemary, Grace, and Hayden.
Bessie and her husband Vernon built and operated two restaurants in Orange, while raising three boys. They owned and operated a sandwich shop outside the Livingston Shipyard for many years before opening Durke's Burger in 1969. While Vernon worked at DuPont, Bess managed both businesses. After Vernon retired from DuPont, they sold the restaurants, traveled the US and Canada in their camper, and built a home on Lake Sam Rayburn at Powell Point. Bessie was a warm, energetic person, well-liked among the circle of friends with whom she and Vernon socialized and traveled. She’s remembered with great affection by her sons, daughter in-laws, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
Her positive nature and love for life are traits she passed on to her family and all who knew her. Everyone who spent time with her appreciated her selflessness, wisdom and kindness. Her friends loved her, her family adored her and she will be forever missed.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 A.M., Saturday, June 10, 2017, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Orange. Officiating will be Father Joseph P. Daleo of St. Mary Catholic Church. Entombment will follow at St. Mary Cemetery in Orange.
Visitation will be from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Friday, June 9, 2017, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Bessie Ann Durke, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Friday, June 9, 2017
5:00 - 8:00 pm (Central time)
Claybar Funeral Home Orange
Mass of Christian Burial
Saturday, June 10, 2017
Starts at 10:00 am (Central time)
St. Mary Catholic Church
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