Obituary of E. Clayton Burkey

BURKEY E. Clayton, 84, of Loretto, passed away peacefully November 14th, 2015 at home, surrounded by his caregivers. Born September 23, 1931 in Cresson, son of the late Guy and Helga (Bjernrud) Burkey. Last surviving member of his immediate family, he is preceded in death by his wife, Sophia Anne (Abdallah) Burkey, who passed away last fall; brothers Ted Burkey and Harold Sandberg; and sisters Dorothy Conrad and Helen Holoquist. Survived by daughter Kirsten, wife of Keith Hunt, of East Hampton, New York and grandson Keith. Also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. He was a 1949 graduate of Cresson Joint High School, attained a Bachelors and Masters degree from St. Francis University, and had also attended the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. His teaching career in science and chemistry included positions at Penn State, Mount Aloysius College, St. Francis University, Cresson Joint (Penn Cambria) Schools and Bishop Carroll High School as well as a short time of teaching in Baltimore, Maryland. Recently he taught private voice lessons, raised and hybridized beautiful daylillies and was well known for breeding pheasants and canaries. Former member of the Cresson Lake Playhouse, where he had acted and sang in numerous productions and with his late wife, the Altoona Chorale Society. He loved spending time with his family, traveling, fishing, and working on his family s genealogy. He was a US Army veteran. Member of the Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel in Loretto, where a Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, the Very Rev. John Byrnes, celebrant. Friends will be received from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Askew-Houser Funeral Homes, Inc., Ebensburg, where a vigil prayer service will be held. Interment at St. Michael s Cemetery. In lieu of other memorials, contributions in Clayton s memory may be made to the Dorothy Day Center at St. Francis University or the hospice program of your choice.