Marilea B. Burge, eighty-one, passed away Tuesday, December 12, 2006, at the Hospice of Wichita Falls, Texas. She was born November 11, 1925, in Hastings, Oklahoma, to Elmer and Maye Benson. She graduated from Hastings High School in 1943, and was married the same year to Ralph E. McEwen, USAF, stationed at Sheppard Field in Wichita Falls, Texas. They moved to Lubbock, Texas, where their daughter, Lynda, was born. Ralph died in a glider crash in 1944.

Marilea and Lynda moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and eventually back to Hastings with her father. April 14, 1946, she married Jordan E. Burge, a native of Waurika, Oklahoma. They completed their family with two sons, Jon M. and James M. Burge, and enjoyed forty-nine years of marriage and family life. Jordan preceded her in death in 1994.

Marilea was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her greatest delight was to be with her family and friends. She was a great friend to many, opening her heart to all she met. It can truly be said that she never met someone about whom she couldn’t find something good. Marilea loved to travel, which she did with Jordan prior to his death and then to many places in the last twelve years, both in and out of the United States.

In 1977, Marilea started her own bookkeeping and tax preparation business while living in Moore, Oklahoma. When she and Jordan moved back to Waurika in 1981, she continued her business and enthusiastically served her clients as not only a professional, but as a friend. She was a member of many organizations in her lifetime, serving with joy in all. A great happiness for her was to be serving her church and community activities, including First Christian Church, Sorosis Club, Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, Chisholm Trail Historical Museum, to mention just a few. She could always be counted on to do what needed to be done.

Survivors include: her daughter - Lynda and her husband Reynolds Cantrell of Waurika, OK; her son - Jon M. Burge and his wife Genie, of Ryan, OK; six grandchildren - Jamie Burge Gibson, Brad Cantrell, Reagan Burge, Laura Cantrell Schroeder, Amy Burge Walls, and Jona Burge Kuhlman; six great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law - Earlene Fanning of Arlington, TX; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother LaRoyd Benson, her husband, Jordan Burge, and her son James M. Burge.

Funeral services for Mrs. Burge were at 10:00 AM, Friday, December 15, 2006, at the First Baptist Church of Waurika, Oklahoma with Rev. Curtis Plant officiating, with burial in the Waurika Cemetery under the direction of Dudley Funeral Home of Waurika. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church of Waurika, Oklahoma, the Hospice of Wichita Falls, Texas, or the Leukemia Society of America.