Mont Burke

Mont Leroy Burke was born August 12, 1932 in Snowflake, Arizona. He was the second of 10 children born to James and Montez Burke. He passed away on June 26, 2025 at the VA Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona after fighting valiantly to overcome congestive heart failure and kidney failure. He was continually surrounded by his family and friends who love and adore him and he made it clear until the very end how much he loves everyone. That was his gift, making everyone feel special, loved and of value.

He served as a Navy Corpsman in the Korean War. He was extremely proud of his military service. You rarely saw him without his Korean War Veteran hat on. The VA Hospital took tremendously good care of him and honored him with a "Final Salute" as he left the hospital for the last time. His favorite thing in his life, besides being with his family, was to "toodle around in the boonies". Everyone that knew him could tell you about an adventure they had with him in nature that he loved so much. He served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Northern States Mission where he met and later married his sweetheart Dianne Schnoor. They lived in Tempe, Arizona where he worked as a truck driver and they raised their 3 daughters. He was a true legend and one of the last great mountain men. He will be greatly missed.

He is proceeded in death by his wife, Dianne Burke, and their daughter, Vicki Burke.

He is survived by his daughters, Kimberlee (Carlos Juarez) Burke, Kelli (Gregg) Corley, Karri (Ken) Smith; his grandchildren, Brandon (Katie) Corley, Chase (Chelsea) Corley, Spencer Corley, Cauner Juarez, Clay Juarez, Victoria (Ryan) Couch, Chloé (José Jimenez) Juarez, Reid Danielson and 10 beautiful great grandchildren; his sisters, Helen Masterson and Cherilyn (Don) Shoemaker. He is also survived by his close companion Suzanne "Cookie" Wermuth.

A Viewing will be held Friday, July 18th, 2025 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Owens Livingston Mortuary, 320 N 9th St, ShowLow, Arizona. An additional Viewing will be held Saturday, July 19, 2025, from 9:30-10:30 am and Funeral Service will begin at 11:00 am at the Pinetop LDS Chapel, 4075 Buck Springs Rd., Pinetop, Arizona.