Billye Burk, ninety-three, died Sunday, April 24, 2005. She was born east of Comanche, Oklahoma, in the Alamo community, the oldest of six children born to Barney and Velma Burk, who died while all the younger children were still in school. Billye and her older brother, Clyde, were determined to keep the family together during the early years of the Depression. This was a mammoth undertaking for two teenagers, but they were successful in their efforts. The three boys became outstanding rodeo cowboys. Clyde became a four-time World Champion calf Roper. Pauline, her middle sister, married Roy Lewis, himself a successful rodeo cowboy, but she died in her early thirties. Kathryn, her younger sister, married Pistol Plott and had three wonderful children, whom Billye idolized.

Billye married Amye Gamblin, a famous calf roper and horse trainer. Amye preceded her in death. Billye became an active member iin the cutting horse association and was a director for several years. She won a World Championship in that event in the mid-fifties. She was inducted into the Cowgirls Hall of Fame at Ft Worth, Texas. Later in her life, she was the business manager of the Ryons Western Wear in Ft Worth for more than twenty years.

She was preceded in death by Clyde and her youngest brother Jiggs, and her sister Pauline Lewis.

Billye lived in Duncan, Oklahoma, the last ten years of her life and was a member of the New Hope Baptist Church in Duncan, and was looking forward to worshipping in their new building when she had a stroke in October of 2004.

Survivors include: her brother Dee and his wife Dorothy Burk of Duncan, OK; her sister, Kathryn Burk of Meridian, OK; and her sister-in-law, Jean Reed. She was loved and respected by nieces, nephews, cousins, a host of friends, and just about everyone in the rodeo world.

Burial was in the Fairlawn Cemetery under the direction of Dudley Funeral Home of Comanche. Pallbearers were Barry Burk, Roy Burk, Rusty Burk, Blair Burk, and Jr. Turner.