John Wayne Burks

John Wayne Burks, 81, of Mexia, passed away Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 3, at First United Methodist Church in Mexia with the Rev. Jaime McGlothlin and the Rev. Marcus Sheffield officiating. Burial will be at Mexia Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 2, at Blair-Stubbs Funeral Home.

John was born on March 12, 1942, to Fern and John Wesley Burks in Fort Worth. He was reared in a West Texas oil camp near Guadalupe Peak and attended a two-room elementary school. The family moved to Midland where he graduated from Midland High School. He attended Texas Tech University and later the University of Houston, graduating with his Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy in 1966.

He met Diane Benson during his senior year at a Halloween party at the VA Hospital in Houston where both were working. They were married Oct. 21,1967, in North Dakota. They cherished 56 years together.

John worked as a pharmacist in Odessa and Fort Worth before moving to Mexia in 1977. He worked for the late Jewett White at White & Gillespie in downtown Mexia for a month and then purchased the store. He and Diane owned the business until retiring shortly after selling the pharmacy to Brookshire’s in 2001. Together, they made a significant impact on the entire Mexia community through their service in the pharmacy and gift store. John ran the pharmacy and Diane ran the gift shop and did the bookkeeping. One could always call on John, even after hours and during the weekends. He would see that medicine was delivered to people at their homes.

John served faithfully in the Mexia community. He was president of the Bistone Municipal Water Supply District’s Board of Directors for six years. He served on the General Mexia Memorial Hospital (now Parkview Regional) Board of Directors for 14 years, including a term as president, and was later cochair of the Parkview Foundation Fund. He held several offices, including president in the Mexia Rotary Club and was an active member of the Mexia Chamber of Commerce. He was a member in several professional pharmacist’s organizations. He also served in Mexia First United Methodist Church on several committees, including the Administrative Board and Board of Trustees. John was the 1995 recipient of the Hospice of Mercy’s Tommy Flatt Award (now Community Healthcare of Texas-Providence Hospice). He was named as the 1996 Nubbin Bankhead Citizen of the Year by the Mexia Chamber of Commerce.

John’s favorite hobby was building and flying Ultralight airplanes. He built and flew several throughout the years and served as vice president of the Ultralight Flying Club. John and Diane enjoyed traveling. Some of their favorite memories were their many trips to North Dakota to see Diane’s family, an Alaskan cruise with John’s brother and stepsister and their spouses, an adventure to Norway to meet Diane’s relatives, and a Panama Canal cruise. John and Diane also loved animals and had several interesting pets over the years, including a roadrunner, a bobcat, donkeys, miniature ponies, and numerous llamas. He and Diane enjoyed their time living on their land outside of Mexia during their retirement years, owning cattle with their brother and sisterin- law, Jim and Mary Benson, and later their daughter and son-in-law, Tracy and Randy Machacek.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Fern and John Wesley Burks, and his stepmother, Corrine Burks; and brothers-in-law, Duane Dooley and Jim Benson.

He is survived by his loving wife, Diane; son, Brad Burks and wife Susan of Amarillo; daughter, Tracy Machacek and husband Randy of Mexia; daughter, Wendy Ferderer and husband Jeff, of Lorena; grandchildren, Elizabeth Burks, Sam Burks, Grant Ferderer, Nick Ferderer, Ben Burks and Wil Ferderer; great-grandson, Grayson Ferderer; brother, Ron Burks and wife Sherry of Montgomery; step-sister, Peggy Dooley of McKinney; and many sistersin- law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and dear family friends.

The family requests memorials to be to the Community Healthcare of Texas-Providence Hospice, or the church or charity of your choice.

Please visit www.blairstubbs. com to leave the family a message of condolence or sign the guestbook.