Wilmer "Bud" F. Burkett

Wilmer "Bud" Burkett of Aztec, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2014, in Aztec, surrounded by the family that loved him. He was born March 20, 1928, in Animas City, Colo., the son of Helen and Dave Burkett. He was raised on his family's ranch in Durango, Colo. He left home at the age of 13 to follow the harvest in Kansas and Nebraska. After he came home he worked in the mines in Silverton, Colo., until age 17, when he joined the U. S. Navy. He was in the Navy for two tours: the first during WWII and the second during the Korean War. Following his military service he was a professional truck driver until he retired at the age of 83. He loved being on the road; he especially loved hauling cattle.
Bud married the love of his life, Nyla Sturdevant, in 1951 and they raised seven children. They moved to California in 1958 and returned to the Farmington/Durango area in 1985. He was an avid outdoorsman; he loved hunting, fishing and camping. He loved the mountains and loved watching wildlife. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Bud was preceded in death by his parents; his sister Darlene Simpson; his sons-in-law, Keith Nichols and Bill Yearry. He is survived by his sister Marie, his loving wife of 63 years Nyla Burkett; and his seven children, Lee Burkett and wife Dottie, Toni Burkett and husband Andrew, Teri Yearry and husband Scott, Dawna Nichols, Smokey Burkett, Tim Burkett and wife Diane, Kyle Burkett and wife Susan; 12 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11 in Greenmount Cemetery, 900 Cemetery Road in Durango, Colo., officiated by Terry Eagle. Pallbearers are his grandsons, Zach Burkett, Cory Burkett, Daniel Burkett, RJ Sterling, Joshua Nichols, Brady Burkett and Logan Burkett. Honorary pallbearers are Lee Burkett, Smokey Burkett, Tim Burkett, Kyle Burkett, David Boggs, Andrew Horpeniuk, Scott Gomez, Dale Montoya, Jerry Montoya, Tony Candelaria and Chuck Grubb.
The family would like to extend their sincere thanks to Dr. Ron Bliss, Dr. Jeff Neidhardt, Dr. Lawrence Dautenhahn, Basin Home Health and Hospice; and their staffs for the compassionate care they provided for Bud.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made to the Aztec Fire Department, 201 West Chaco, Aztec, NM 87410. Bud's care is entrusted to Cope Memorial Chapel of Aztec, 405 S. Main Ave., 505-334-9332.