Barry Lynn Burk, of Durant, Okla. passed from this life on Thursday, December 16, 2021 at the age of 79.
Barry was born on Jan. 11, 1942 in Duncan, Okla. to the late Dee Mack and Dorothy (Cagle) Burk.
Along with his parents, Dee and Dorothy, and his brother, Roy, they moved to Wagoner, Okla., where he became an outstanding athlete in basketball, football, as well as rodeo. As a graduate of Wagoner High School.
He earned scholarships in football from The University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University along with basketball from Northeastern Oklahoma State and rodeo at Hardin-Simmons University. Instead of going to college, Burk started on the road for his professional rodeo career.
Barry married Cheryl Ann Allred Wesley on Dec. 11, 1971 in Duncan, Oklahoma. Then together they left for the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City where Barry set a calf roping arena record that night.
To say that Barry loved Rodeo is an understatement! All the way from AJRA to Oklahoma High School to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Barry was a winner! Now a member of the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. In his later years, he dedicated his life to mentoring young ropers to help them achieve their goals in Rodeo and promoting his Sport of Rodeo. Barry and Cheryl started hosting the annual BB Championship Jr Roping for the past 36 years in Ardmore, Okla. 
Barry was a longtime resident of Duncan and Durant, Okla. and proud member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. He became a Wrangler endorse in the ’60s. Burk, who was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1994 and qualified for the National Finals Rodeo 18 times – 16 in tie-down roping (1964-77, 1979-80) and twice in steer wrestling (1963, 1969). He also competed as a team roping header at the 1968 NFR.
Barry loved rodeo, he loved the rodeo life, and he loved the people who he got to be friends with and meet through rodeo. Most of all he loved his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Dee Mack and Dorothy Burk; son, “Opie” Dee Lawrence Burk; uncles, Clyde Burk, Jiggs Burk; aunts, Billie Burk, Jean Burk, Katherine Burk and cousins, Rusty Burk and Bobby Plott.
Survivors include his wife, Cheryl Burk of the home; brother, Roy Burk and wife Melinda of Duncan, Okla.; son, Blair Burk and wife Chelsey of Caddo, Okla.; grandsons, Dalton Doshier Burk of Bull Shoals, Ark., Bryler Roy Burk of Caddo, Okla.; granddaughter, T’Lee Ann Burk of Caddo, Okla. and step-grandchildren, Kennedy Phillips, Hudson Phillips, Gentry Phillips of Caddo, Okla., as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other extended family and friends.
A celebration service was held Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021 at Victory Life Church in Durant, Okla.
A graveside service was held at Fairlawn Cemetery in Comanche, Okla. on Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Gordon Funeral Home, 221 N. Third Ave. in Durant.
Phone: (580) 916-9090
www.gordonfh.com
