Leon Dale Burke, Sr. was born on May 29, 1933 in Red Rock, Ok. to Lawrence Dale Burke and Adelia (Shoemake) Burke.  He grew up in the Blocker and McAlester area.  He received his Bachelor's Degree from Northeastern State College in Tahlequah.  He served in the U. S. Army from June of 1953 to May of 1955, during the Korean War.  He married Floreda Louise Leason and they made their home in Hartshorne.  Leon taught auto mechanics at Hartshorne High School until his retirement, then started his own construction business, Burke Construction, which was his dream most of his life.  Leon loved music and was an accomplished fiddle player winning multiple awards.  He also loved watching sports and wood-working.  Leon was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Hartshorne, and was a 32 ^nd degree Mason as a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Shriners of McAlester.

Leon is survived by his wife, Floreda Burke; his children, Adonna Kay Bond, Lawrence Dean Burke and wife Polly, Leon Dale Burke, Jr. and wife Donna, and Reta Marie McKee; 13 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren; 4 great great grandchildren; and a sister, Clariece Chapman.  He was preceded in death by his parents; 2 brothers, Freddie and wife Brabara and Vernon; a sister, Alma Mason and husband Jack; and grandchildren, Shelly Jean Steidley and Anthony Dale Burke.