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Anna L. Burke

Anna L. Burke


      Anna Lou Burke, 70, of LaBelle, Missouri, died October 6, 2007.

      Anna Lou was born on September 23, 1937, the daughter of Harry Benjamin and Mary Evelyn Rouner Simpson.

   She grew up in the Plevna, Missouri area and attended the Rhoades Rural School west of Plevna and graduated from the Edina High School in the class of 1954. Anna Lou received her Associates of Arts Degree from Christian College in Columbia in 1956, and a B.S. Degree in Education in 1958 from the University of Missouri, in Columbia, Missouri.

   Anna Lou accepted her missionary call to teach on the island of Grenada, West Indies, in 1967 to 1979.  She also taught at schools in St. Louis County, Pike County, Knox County, Lewis County, Missouri; and retired from the New Covenant Academy in Springfield, Missouri, in the year 2000. Only eternity will reveal the number of lives she influenced.

   After retirement, she moved back to LaBelle, Missouri.  She attended the LaBelle Assembly of God Church.  Over the years she had taught Sunday school and had enjoyed singing in the choir.  She loved caring for others. She loved animals, beautiful flowers, and nature.

   On August 23, 1958, she married Patrick James Burke and to this union no children were born.

   Anna Lou is survived by a brother, Jack, and his wife, Yonlene Simpson of Denver, Colorado; a sister, Mary Jane and her husband, Kenneth McKenzie of Knox City, Missouri; a niece, Kimberly and her husband, David Bain of Trenton, Missouri; four nephews: Troy Baltzelle of LaBelle, Missouri; Dr. Harry Simpson of Alexandria. Virginia; Dr. Lin and his wife, Susan Simpson of Denver, Colorado; and Hal Simpson of Denver, Colorado; two great nieces: Alexandria Bain of Trenton, Missouri, and Kira Simpson of Denver, Colorado; a great nephew, Derek Simpson of Denver, Colorado; three uncles; Wesley Simpson of Burbank, Illinois, Howard Simpson of Independence, Missouri, and Gordon Simpson of Kansas City, Missouri; an aunt, Lecta Smith of Burbank, Illinois; cousins: Harry and his wife, Virginia Holman of Hurdland, Missouri; Jerry Holman of Edina, Missouri; and Betty and her husband, Carl Lang of Goleta, California; along with a host of friends.

   She was preceded in death by her parents.

   Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. at the Doss Funeral Home in Edina, Missouri on October 10, 2007.

   Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. the morning of the funeral.

   Burial will be at the Mt. Salem Cemetery north of Plevna, Missouri.

   Reverend John Giesler will officiate and music will be provided by Carol Hayes, pianist; Alexandria Bain, violinist; and singing by friends from Grenada. Casket bearers will be Dr. Harry Simpson, Dr. Lin Simpson, Hal Simpson, Troy Baltzelle, Kimberly Bain, and David Bain.

   An expression of sympathy in memory of Anna Lou Burke may be left to the Gouyave Bible Holiness Church of Grenada, or the American Bible Society. Memorials may be left at, or mailed to the Doss Funeral Home, 208 N. Fourth Street, Edina, Missouri 63537.