Mary Ann Burkey, 65, of Seward, went to the Great Physician on April 14, 2026.
Mary was born in Seward on July 22, 1960, to Willius and Elaine (Stauffer) Burkey and welcomed home by her happy siblings, Fred, Daniel, and Sara. When Mary was six months old, the family moved from Beaver Crossing to Phoenix, Arizona, in hopes that Willius would find relief from his severe headaches in the dry heat. Mary attended school at Grace Brethren Elementary School from K-3rd grade. Around 1970, her family moved from Arizona back to Beaver Crossing. During this time, Mary attended school at Utica.
After three years, the family once again moved to Phoenix, where Mary finished her elementary at Grace Brethren Elementary school and completed her high school education with a home correspondence course. After receiving her high school diploma, Mary attended some winter bible schools, where she evidently developed a love for the cold north. Even though it was no secret in her younger years she did not like school, she chose to become a school teacher using Christian light education publications at various Mennonite church schools in North Dakota, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska and Colorado.
She had a knack for knowing what to expect from each student and urged them in their learning. This, along with her humorous ways, earned her great love and appreciation from her students. While teaching in Colorado, she chose to quit her job and moved back to Seward, where her ailing father, along with her mother, moved to in 1999. She chose to live with her parents to care for them in their elder years.
She used her knowledge and abilities to work from home for CLE, writing and editing curriculum until the fall of 2025. She loved her job, but decided to ask CLE for a leave of absence. Her father passed away in November of 2007, and Mary continued to live with her mother. She seldom took a day off believing she had to take care of mom, but refusing to take care of herself became a heavy burden. Her siblings often urged her and even provided ways she could “take a break” but she refused. This affected her health physically, mentally and emotionally but she still refused the help her biological family and church family offered.
On April 14, 2026, Mary passed on to the Great Physician who is able to give complete healing. All of her family and friends miss her funny comments and she’ll never know the love and impact she had in the many lives she touched.
Her eldest brother, Fred, passed away November 2002. Her siblings, Dan and Sara, who were so overjoyed with their baby sister, are now grieving losing her. May she rest in peace until the Trumpet sounds.
Mary is survived by her mother, Elaine (Stauffer) Burkey, Greene Senior Living, Seward; brother, Dan and Linda (Roth) Burkey, Parker, Colorado; sister, Sara and Galen Yoder, Mylo, North Dakota; nephews and nieces, Bruce and Barb Burkey, Wahoo, Anita and Steve Spencer, Sheridan, Indiana, Barry and Lisa Burkey, Milford, Bryan and Shelly Burkey, Parker, Briana Satterfield, Parker, Jalen and Tracy Yoder, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Dylan Yoder, York, North Dakota, Jeana Brossart, Devils Lake, North Dakota, Lisa and Frans Van Graan, Wolford, North Dakota, and Rylan and Beth Yoder, Mylo, North Dakota. Other survivors include several great nephews and nieces, along with many cousins and friends.
Visitation is Friday April 17, from 9:00 a.m - 11:00 a.m. at the Lauber Funeral Home in Milford. A private family burial will take place at the Salem Country Church Cemetery.
Arrangements by Lauber Funeral and Cremation Services in Milford.
