BURKE, Carol Gail

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ July 8, 1998, p. 16 Carol Gail Burke of Wickenburg died July 1. She was 63. Carol Gail Fillenworth Burke was born July 18, 1934 and grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She attended Iowa and Colorado State Universities, and in the late 1950s was a stewardess for Western Airlines. She married Fred Burke in southern Arizona, and their partnership included ranching, wife of an Arizona State Representative and world traveler. With her husband Fred, she later became a founding partner of the Arizona River Runners, a home-grown mom and pop operation run out of the Vermilion cliffs, which eventually took thousands of people from around the world down the Colorado River into the heart of the Grand Canyon. In 1986, retiring to Wickenburg, she stayed busy as treasurer of Las Damas, a very well-known ladies riding organization. She is survived by her husband Fred, step-daughters Judy and Patty, grandchildren Jim, Cindi, Casey, Trasey and “Peppy”. Beloved wife, step-mother, grandmother and friend, she will be fondly remembered and her wit sorely missed. A memorial service will be held at the Wickenburg Rodeo Grounds on Constellation Road in Wickenburg on Saturday, July 11 at 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Hospice of the Valley, Eckstein Center, 9494 W. Becker Lane, Scottsdale, AZ 85260.