W.P. "Nick" Burch
March 2, 1922 — April 14, 2009
W.P. "Nick" Burch
W.P. Burch Jr. or "Nick" as he was known by his family and friends, went to join God's Roundup on Tuesday, April 14, 2009. He passed away at his home in Graham, Texas at the age of 87. Funeral services for this fine Cowboy will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 18, 2009 in the First United Methodist Church in Graham with Larry Pratt officiating. Burial will follow in Newcastle Cemetery under the direction of Morrison Funeral Home.
Daddy was born March 2, 1922 on the Burch Ranch near Graham, Texas to Wiley Patton and Lillie Helena (Berkoben) Burch. Lillie died in 1937 and W.P. Burch Sr. in 1982. Nick was also preceded in death by his stepmother, Juanita Burch in 2002 and a stepbrother, Troy Wallace Proffitt. He was a lifelong resident of Young County, living many years in Newcastle before moving to Graham in 1975.
Nick married Gloria Bryan in September 1945 and had one daughter, Karen Kay. He later married Alwana Moody on September 20, 1953 in Graham, Texas. She preceded him in death on January 30, 2005. A granddaughter, Amy Lisa Burch preceded him in August, 1977. Nick is survived by daughters Karen Kay Edwards of Denton and Mary Helen Hart of Arlington and two sons, Lee Wiley Burch and wife Janan and Charles Franklin Burch of Graham. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Adam Travis Burch and wife Barbara Jo, Daniel Wiley Burch and wife Heather, Edward Lee Terry and wife, Robyn, Rebecca Lynn Blackwell and husband, Ken, Roy Kevin Terry and wife Barb, Kimberly Kay Wright and husband Chris, and Karen Michelle Gwilliam and husband John. Nick was also survived by eighteen great-grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren. Also surviving Nick are stepsister, Nita Hollar of Wichita Falls and his lifelong friend, Bill Mote and wife Olga Jean of LaMesa, California and special caregiver, Myrdell Wolf of Runaway Bay, Texas.
Burch was a veteran of World War II, serving as a Corporal in the United States Army. His overseas duties took him to England, France, Belgium, and several places in between. Nick rarely talked about his World War II experiences, but took much pride in serving his country. He was a true American and never cared to hear anyone dishonor the USA or its colors.
After being honorably discharged from the Army in 1945, Nick came home to Young County. He worked for Ernest "Tige" Stewart's Service Station and drove a school bus for Newcastle Schools. Nick then worked for L.D. Burns Operating, drilling oil wells across North and West Texas. He later worked for Jack Bearden Drilling and other companies who needed a fine roughneck. He gave up his oilfield career in 1966 to work for Hexcel Corporation in Graham where he stayed until his retirement in 1993.
Nick had a lifelong love for ranching and raised beefmaster and crossbred cattle on the family ranch until his death. He and son, Lee Wiley accepted the Family Land Heritage Award by the State of Texas from Agriculture Commissioner Rick Perry in Austin on January 16, 1994. This award is given annually to families who have land in continuous agricultural production by the same family for 100 years or longer. The Burch Ranch was started in the early 1880's by Nick's grandfather F.P. Burch and great uncle, Thomas James Burch on land near what is now Lake Graham, in Young County.
As a young man, Nick was an avid calf roper and participated in many rodeos, jackpot calf and goat ropings and other competitive events throughout the North Texas area. He loved the Thompson and Sloan families of Fort Belknap and spent many Sunday afternoons roping calves and spinning yarns with these special friends. In later years, nick enjoyed traveling to roping events throughout Texas and Oklahoma, making friends with many of the professionals in competition.
He loved playing dominoes with his buddies at the Orr building in Graham and sharing his many "truths and wisdoms" with the elite group at the local livestock sale barn. Nick served as Chief Consultant to both groups for many years.
"Paw Paw Nick" was a loving father and grandfather who taught us all to play dominoes and poker, how to spin yarn and a rope, and that hard work, laced with a sense of humor - would make us smile and rest easy at the end of a long day.
Memorials for W.P. "Nick" Burch Jr. my be given in his honor to the Volunteer Fire Department of your Choice, Cowboy Church of Young County and Cowboy Gatherin' Cowboy Church, both in Graham, Texas.
The family will receive friends on Friday from 6 - 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Daddy was born March 2, 1922 on the Burch Ranch near Graham, Texas to Wiley Patton and Lillie Helena (Berkoben) Burch. Lillie died in 1937 and W.P. Burch Sr. in 1982. Nick was also preceded in death by his stepmother, Juanita Burch in 2002 and a stepbrother, Troy Wallace Proffitt. He was a lifelong resident of Young County, living many years in Newcastle before moving to Graham in 1975.
Nick married Gloria Bryan in September 1945 and had one daughter, Karen Kay. He later married Alwana Moody on September 20, 1953 in Graham, Texas. She preceded him in death on January 30, 2005. A granddaughter, Amy Lisa Burch preceded him in August, 1977. Nick is survived by daughters Karen Kay Edwards of Denton and Mary Helen Hart of Arlington and two sons, Lee Wiley Burch and wife Janan and Charles Franklin Burch of Graham. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Adam Travis Burch and wife Barbara Jo, Daniel Wiley Burch and wife Heather, Edward Lee Terry and wife, Robyn, Rebecca Lynn Blackwell and husband, Ken, Roy Kevin Terry and wife Barb, Kimberly Kay Wright and husband Chris, and Karen Michelle Gwilliam and husband John. Nick was also survived by eighteen great-grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren. Also surviving Nick are stepsister, Nita Hollar of Wichita Falls and his lifelong friend, Bill Mote and wife Olga Jean of LaMesa, California and special caregiver, Myrdell Wolf of Runaway Bay, Texas.
Burch was a veteran of World War II, serving as a Corporal in the United States Army. His overseas duties took him to England, France, Belgium, and several places in between. Nick rarely talked about his World War II experiences, but took much pride in serving his country. He was a true American and never cared to hear anyone dishonor the USA or its colors.
After being honorably discharged from the Army in 1945, Nick came home to Young County. He worked for Ernest "Tige" Stewart's Service Station and drove a school bus for Newcastle Schools. Nick then worked for L.D. Burns Operating, drilling oil wells across North and West Texas. He later worked for Jack Bearden Drilling and other companies who needed a fine roughneck. He gave up his oilfield career in 1966 to work for Hexcel Corporation in Graham where he stayed until his retirement in 1993.
Nick had a lifelong love for ranching and raised beefmaster and crossbred cattle on the family ranch until his death. He and son, Lee Wiley accepted the Family Land Heritage Award by the State of Texas from Agriculture Commissioner Rick Perry in Austin on January 16, 1994. This award is given annually to families who have land in continuous agricultural production by the same family for 100 years or longer. The Burch Ranch was started in the early 1880's by Nick's grandfather F.P. Burch and great uncle, Thomas James Burch on land near what is now Lake Graham, in Young County.
As a young man, Nick was an avid calf roper and participated in many rodeos, jackpot calf and goat ropings and other competitive events throughout the North Texas area. He loved the Thompson and Sloan families of Fort Belknap and spent many Sunday afternoons roping calves and spinning yarns with these special friends. In later years, nick enjoyed traveling to roping events throughout Texas and Oklahoma, making friends with many of the professionals in competition.
He loved playing dominoes with his buddies at the Orr building in Graham and sharing his many "truths and wisdoms" with the elite group at the local livestock sale barn. Nick served as Chief Consultant to both groups for many years.
"Paw Paw Nick" was a loving father and grandfather who taught us all to play dominoes and poker, how to spin yarn and a rope, and that hard work, laced with a sense of humor - would make us smile and rest easy at the end of a long day.
Memorials for W.P. "Nick" Burch Jr. my be given in his honor to the Volunteer Fire Department of your Choice, Cowboy Church of Young County and Cowboy Gatherin' Cowboy Church, both in Graham, Texas.
The family will receive friends on Friday from 6 - 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
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