Mary (Ryerson) Burks

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Biography

Mary is the only child of Carl Ryerson & Mardrey Matthews Ryerson. Born in Ventura, CA, she lived there until, at 4 yrs of age her parents moved to Polk county, MO where they lived until Mary was 13 years of age. The family moved to Fillmore, Ventura county, CA in 1957, where Mary graduated from Fillmore Union High School in 1962.

Mary attended Oxnard Beauty College, Oxnard, CA and received her Cosmetology license in 1963. She worked for an Aunt (Hildreth Matthews) in Santa Paula, CA for 3 years. After the birth of her son, Mark, she opened her own salon in Fillmore, CA; "Her Majesty's House of Style-- June 1, 1966 through May 11, 1970.

Marriage to Leland Jesse Burks on August 18, 1964. They continued to live in Fillmore, CA until 1971, when they moved the family back to the MidWest; (Buffalo, Mo,) where they Dairy farmed for 5 years. In 1975 the family moved to Seligman, MO to manage a 75 acre Grape Vineyard. During this time, Mary started a Registered Kennel of 5 different registered breeds of dogs.

In 1978 the family decided to move to Colorado, where Leland was to prospect Gold. En-route, (in Pratt, KS), with a vehicle breakdown, the family stayed at the Travel Lodge for almost a month, during which time the managers introduced Leland and Mary to the owners of the Travel Lodge. The owners asked Leland & Mary to go to Parsons, KS and manage the Best Western Townsman Motel there. During this time, Mary became interested in showing dogs and after raising a female Irish Wolfhound named "Nobie Lass of LeeMarelle", she went on to show Nobie and gained her Championship Irish Wolfhound papers in 1983.

1984, After the graduation and marriage of "Mark", (who stayed to live in Parson, Ks), Leland again wanted to prospect for Gold in Colorado; selling almost all possessions; prepared to camp out and live off the land, they went to the Ghost Town of Ophir, CO. ((Now the family consisted of: Leland, Mary, Chelly, Shawna, one Pembroke Welsh Terrier, "Popcorn" and one Irish Wolfhound, "Nobie".)) The daughters did NOT like the camping life and did NOT want to live in CO; so after 3 months, back to Kansas they came.

In 1982, the family moved to Stuttgart, AR to manage the Townhouse Motel, until 1995. After selling the motel, (and marriages of both daughters) staying in Stuttgart, Leland began doing carpenter jobs as his business, while Mary took training to become a Master Gardener.

In 1999, they moved to Bentonville, AR

Timeline: May 2, 2002; death of Leland J. Burks Oct 2009; marriage to Ray Burkhart, Clarksville, MO Nov 2013; death of Ray Burkhart Nov 28, 2017; death of son, Leland "Mark" Burks

Sources

• First-hand information. Entered by Mary Burks at registration.