Burress, Mildred Jayne Burks Obituary

Burress, Mildred Jayne Burks attended Horace Mann High School in Gary, IN. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Burress, Mildred Jayne Burks.

Graduation Year	Class of 1938
Date of Passing	Jun 01, 2018
About	Crawfordsville - Mildred Jayne Burress Burks was born on January 22, 1920 in Gary Indiana to Lloyd Francis and Besse Smith Burress. She was sister to four, Mother to four, Grandmother to four, Great-grandmother to 5. Wife. Sister. Friend. PhD sociologist. College professor. Published author. Social butterfly. Bridge card shark. Lifelong swimmer. Original feminist. Passionate debater. Skilled cook and pianist. Avid reader. But family was her passion and her joy. One of 5 sisters. Jayne graduated from Horace Mann High School and then earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from DePauw University where she was a member of Alpha Phi Sorority. Jayne married Jess Burks on September 18, 1943. Jess was also from Gary but he was a Wabash College graduate. He earned his MD from St. Louis U. and, after a tour of duty in the Air Force in WWII, the couple moved to Crawfordsville where they lived until 1967. Jess had a practice in General Medicine. During that time, she raised 4 children, earned a Master’s degree in Sociology and belonged to the League of Women Voters, the Book Club, the Athenian Club. She was an active member of the Wabash Avenue Presbyterian Church. In 1967 they moved to St. Louis where Jess was the Medical Director for GM until his death in 1973. During this time Jayne earned a PhD in Sociology and taught at Fontbonne College. Later Jayne married psychiatrist Melvin Rubenstein and together they wrote two books on Individual Temperament and spoke at several national conventions. After 20 years of marriage Mel passed away. Two years later Jayne moved back to Crawfordsville and married Marion Kirtley, also a General Practice doctor, until his death in 2000. Jayne spent many, many wonderful years in Crawfordsville, the last of them at Whitlock Place… Jayne was predeceased by all 4 of her sisters; Dorothy Burress, Helen Odom, and Betty Dolhof, and Fran Ryan; 3 husbands; Jess Burks, Melvin Rubenstein, and Marion Kirtley; and a son, Joseph E. Burks. She is survived by her 3 children; Marcia Jayne Luigs (Joe), Pete Burks (Nancy), and Paula Ann Burks; 4 grandchildren; Lisa Luigs Morrissett, Amy Kathryn Luigs. Jessica (Burks) Barnett (Jonathan), and Emily (Burks) Perry (Brian); and 5 great grandchildren; Amy Jayne (Luigs) Morrissett, Cameron (Burks) Kramer, Katie (Burks) Kramer, Ian (Burks) Perry, and Aleck (Burks) Perry. Services will be held at the Wabash Ave Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, June 5. Visitation 10:00am, Service 11:00am and fellowship after the service. In lieu of flowers donations to The Dr. Mary Ludwig Free Clinic in Crawfordsville will be appreciated. Published in The Indianapolis Star on June 3, 2018