George R. "Turk" Burkley

George R. “Turk” Burkley, 62 of Blairsville, PA passed away at his home on Monday, March 21, 2022.

The son of George F. and Leona (Dunmire) Burkley, he was born July 31, 1959 in Latrobe, PA.

Turk was a member of the First Christian Church, Indiana, where he was a Deacon.

He graduated from Derry Area High School, Class of 1977 and worked for 37 years at the Blairsville-Saltsburg School District, retiring in 2015.  He loved traveling with his wife, especially train rides, going camping and loved his dogs, Juneau and Tayla.

Turk dedicated his life to community service.  He was a member of the Young Men’s Volunteer Fire Company, joining 1989 and was the Fire Chief for the last 15 years.

Surviving is his wife, T. Diane (Davis) Burkley whom he married June 5, 1991 and a sister, Carol Bernabo (Tim) of Blairsville.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two aunts, Mary Burkley and Bertha Dunmire, two uncles, Marion Dunmire and Vernon Dunmire and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, T. Claude and Rowene Davis.

The family will receive friends on Thursday from 6 to 8 P.M. and Friday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 P.M. at the Shoemaker Funeral Home, Inc., 49 N. Walnut St., Blairsville, PA.  A funeral service will be held on Saturday at 11:00 A.M. in the First Christian Church, 500 Water St., Indiana, with Rev. Tom Spiker officiating.

Interment will be in Blairsville Cemetery, Blairsville, PA.

Memorial donations may be made to the Young Men’s Volunteer Fire Company or to an animal shelter of your choice in memory of George “Turk” Burkley.

To view the online obituary, sign the guest registry or send condolences, visit www.shoemakerfamilyservices.com