Autrey Rose (Barron) Burke

Autrey Rose (Barron) Burke, 96, of Amarillo, passed away on Friday, January 24, 2025. Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Wednesday, January 29, 2025 at First Baptist Church Sanctuary, 1208 S. Tyler St., with Dr. Howard Batson officiating. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 – 7:00 PM Tuesday at Cox-Rowley Funeral Home, 4180 Canyon Drive.

Autrey was born on November 27, 1928 in the house where she grew up in Lamesa, Texas, to Earl and Virginia “Virgie” (Lawler) Barron. When Autrey was six years old, her mother passed away. Two years later, Autrey’s dad married Clara (Ray) Barron. From Autrey’s own writings: “Clara, dear Clara…I knew that Clara loved me and had my best interest at heart. She was my stability. She taught me to cook and sew. She always told me that I could become an English teacher, and that is what I did. I believe that Clara was God’s answer to Mother’s prayer that God would take care of me.”

After graduating from Lamesa High School, Autrey enrolled at Wayland College where, in 1950, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Education with a minor in Voice. While attending Wayland, Autrey traveled on the Wayland Youth Revival Team as the soloist and was a member of the Wayland International Choir; she was also runner-up for Campus Beauty. In the summer of 1951, Autrey served as a missionary for the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. In 1956, she earned her Master of Education degree from West Texas State College.

Autrey began her teaching career in Seminole, Texas. In 1953, after the school year ended, Autrey came to Amarillo for the summer to live with her good friend from college days. She met her future husband, Andy, that summer at a First Baptist Church Training Union picnic. He was stationed at the Amarillo Air Force Base. At summer’s end Autrey went back to Seminole to teach and had no intention of marrying Andy, but Andy wrote the sweetest, most beautiful letters to her… not just every once in a while—but every day. She soon began looking forward to going to the mailbox every day to find a letter from Andy. Andy wooed Autrey with his pen, and they married on December 23, 1953 and made their home in Amarillo. They were married for sixty years before Andy went Home to be with the Lord in 2014. Autrey was a member of First Baptist Church, Amarillo and attended the Reaching Out Sunday School class until she became homebound. Even being confined to her house and eventually residing at The Ware. Autrey faithfully watched First Baptist Church on television each Sunday morning at 8:30 am. One time when Dr. Batson came to visit Autrey, she told him with exuberance, “I listen to every word of your sermon!” Dr. Batson’s response was, “I know you do—you could probably preach my sermon better than I do!” Autrey and the whole family are so grateful for the television ministry of FBC.

Autrey spent the remainder of her teaching career in the Amarillo Independent School District. While maintaining a tight ship in the classroom, she always found ways to make learning a fun adventure. Her top priority was helping her students learn to love Reading and English. Her philosophy was if her students read well, they would be successful at whatever career they chose. One student remembers that she was not reading during the silent reading period, and Mrs. Burke asked her why she wasn’t reading. The student told Mrs. Burke, “I’m not liking this book.” Mrs. Burke said—"then, by all means, we’ll go back to the library and find a book you love!” Many of her students, long after they left elementary school, would see Mrs. Burke out and about, and with great excitement they would flawlessly recite their auxiliary verbs just the way Mrs. Burke had taught them. With her own children and grandchildren, Autrey (Mom/Nana) made the most mundane task seem fun!! She taught her children to read before they started school, and she was their first piano teacher. She also instilled in all of them a great work ethic. Nobody could weasel out of doing work in the Burke household.

Autrey got great joy from teaching, and from being a loving wife, mother, and grandmother, but above all else, Autrey loved telling everyone she met about Jesus. The very most important thing in all the world to her was that everyone would be together in the Kingdom of God with Jesus. Even in her final years, each person who entered her home or her room at The Ware was introduced to Jesus. The greatest joy of her life was knowing that all of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren had made the decision to follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Autrey loved Scripture and had many favorites, but her most favorite Bible verse was Philippians 4:11b “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Even through many difficult and heart-wrenching circumstances, her life was a beautiful reflection of this verse.

The family wishes to express special thanks to everyone who cared for Autrey at her home, True Blessings and SuperiorCare At Home, and then at The Ware at Park Central; and thank you to Gentiva Hospice and BSA Hospice of the SW. Many of Autrey’s home caregivers remained friends and continued to visit her after she moved to The Ware.

Autrey was preceded in death by her husband, Andy; her mother and father and her stepmother; her brothers, V.O. Barron, Horris Dell Barron, R.C. Barron, and her sister, Earlene (Barron) Vinson.

She is survived by one brother—Roddy Barron; two daughters—Andrea Burke; Connie Dickerson and husband Rusty; two sons—Danny Burke and wife Sara; Jeff Burke and wife Michelle; five grandsons---Caleb Dickerson and wife Stormy, Ben, John-Daniel, Logan, and Nicholas Burke; and two great-grandchildren—Keslyn and Kree Dickerson; and many nieces and nephews.

The family will receive visitors at the home of Danny and Sara Burke.