Thomas Earl Burkley

Thomas Earl Burkley, age 73, passed away Thursday evening, November 29, 2018 at the Baptist Memorial Hospital in Oxford, MS. Thomas was the husband of Bonnie Burkley of Batesville.

Funeral services for Mr. Burkley will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 2, 2018 in the Martin Willingham Memorial Chapel of Wells Funeral Home in Batesville with visitation beginning at 1:00 prior to the service. Interment will follow the service at Liberty Hill Cemetery. Rev. Derrick Simmons will officiate.

Tommy was born January 10, 1945 to the late William Burkley and Louise Sullivant Burkley in Charleston, MS. In the 1960’s, Tommy worked for the U.S. Forest Service putting out forest fires in Idaho. He loved passing time with others telling stories of those days. Tommy loved trout fishing in Montana, Tennessee, and North Carolina. His favorite past times were spent with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Tommy was retired from Fred’s Inc. where he was Sr. VP of Advertising. He was an active member of New Beginnings Community Church in Batesville.

The loving family he leaves behind include his wife of 53 years, Bonnie Nell Whitten Burkley of Batesville; 2 children, Tammy Burkley Lance of Batesville, and Jeff Burkley of Bozeman, MT.; 4 grandchildren, Issac Barnett, Seth Barnett, Mark Lance, and Whitten Burkley; 3 great grandchildren, Nolan Barnett, Logan Barnett, and Waylon Barnett.

In addition to his parents, Thomas is preceded in death by one brother, William Burkley.

Memorial contributions in Tommy’s honor may be made to New Beginnings Community Church, 2096 Nelson Spur Rd. Pope, MS 38658