George Burket Obituary

Dr. Burket was instrumental in helping to save my life in 1951 when I was diagnosed with 100% body paralysis from Polio. By his instructions for rapid treatment I was sent from Kingman to Wichita (St. Francis) where after several weeks I regained 100% of my body, no-braces; no special shoes even after a considerable time lying motionless. God Bless This Man for his insight to get me to the right place, on-time.

Even though I was in my teenage years, Dr Burket connected with me. We were lucky to have the "best" in Kingman. As it turned out, he helped set the standard for the state. Peace and Love to all the family in this time of loss.

I met Dr. Burket several times as a young woman through his work with my father, Mac Cahal, when he was executive director of the AAFP. Ned and Sue were always favorites of my parents, and Mac certainly held Ned in the highest esteem. Sue and family, please accept my deepest sympathies.
Carolyn Cahal Holder

Dear Sue, Carol, George, Chris and families, You have my deepest sympathy on your loss. Dr. Ned was a patient and caring friend, an excellent physician and a great role model.

Love and strength to all of you,

Dear Sue, Ned's passing is truly a great loss to everyone who have had the privilege to know him. Our prayers are with you and your family.

Burket family, please accept my condolences on your loss. I met Dr. Burket one time--on May 9, 1952, at the moment of my birth! Although I don't remember him, I'm glad you have such happy memories of him to treasure. My thoughts are with you at this time.

Sue and family: we have lost a great man.

Several years ago I had the opportunity to sit down and interview Dr. Burket, the "medical education President" of the American Academy of General Practice (now the American Academy of Family Physicians) for a book titled "In Their Own Words.". He told me about his medical education, meeting Sue, his practice years in Kingman, his attempt at recruiting a partner which led to his interest in medical politics and his many activities in organized medicine. He told me stories about his up-close-and-personal leadership in the transition of general practice to family practice in the turbulent 1960's.

At the end of the interview, I asked if we had left out anything. He said something like "well, getting elected to the Institutes of Medicine was kind of special." I almost fell off my chair. Here was a small town Kansas doctor who treated his election to the Institutes of Medicine (and his many other awards) as an after-thought. It was that midwestern modesty that made him special. He was more interested in doing the right thing for his patients, community, specialty, state and country than garnering personal recognition.

I will miss Dr. Burket, his wise counsel and his many kind words of encouragement.

DEAR SUE. I WAS SO SADDENED WHEN I READ THE OBITUARY ON THE INTERNET THIS MORNING. MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. WE HAD SO MUCH FUN PLAYING GOLF AT THE WIGWAM MANY YEARS AGO AND I HAVE SUCH WONDERFUL MEMORIES OF THE TWO OF YOU. LOVE, BILLIE

Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time.

I read the wonderful tribute to Dr. Ned reproduced on this site. I read it with great admiration, a certain amount of awe and certainly great sadness as a truly remarkable man has passed from us. I was fortunate to grow up across the street from the Burkets, dear friends still, and my earliest memories include Dr. Ned and his family.
I offer an addendum to the synopsis of Dr. Ned's life presented here and am a little surprised the subject was not brought up. I speak, of course, of Dr. Ned's second career, the one undertaken after medicine. Perhaps few people know that Ned, together with his good friend Bill, formed a construction company when they were in their early 70s. They were co-founders and equal partners in this venture that would eventually be known as Nip and Tuck Construction. I think Dr. Ned was Nip, although I am not positive. This enterprise engaged in various and sundry construction projects, mostly centered at the Burket lake northwest of Kingman, Spring Acres and numerous sites where duck blinds could be found. One of the hallmarks of Nip and Tuck Construction was the continual undertaking of projects for which they did not have the equipment, manpower, or expertise to complete. They certainly did not lack imagination, determination or time, however. Fortunately for Nip and Tuck, a local Kingman-based construction company would rescue them from one misadventure and then the next.
I will truly miss ol' Nip, just as I miss Tuck. It has occurred to me that perhaps, in the past few days, they have teamed up again and are right now planning a new project. What a lovely thought that is. Good luck, men, and be careful not to bite off more than you can chew.

Dear Family, I remember Ned always being interested in my activities and opinions. We enjoyed conversations about hunting and dogs and I certainly considered him a friend. Sorry for your loss of a fine human being.

DEAR SUE, I WAS SO SADDENED TO READ THE NOTICE OF NED'S DEATH IN THE OBITUARY SECTION TODAY. MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES GO OUT TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
LOVE, BILLIE WALLACE

Dr. Burket was a founder of family medicine, a wonderful person, and a friend to all who knew him. We will miss him.

We want to express our thoughts for a man who was sincere and openly friendly to all. His professional attributes as well as his personal interests were deeply admired by those recepients. Our thoughts and prayers are for not only the family but also Sue. We thank you, Ned!