Merrie Burl Walker

Mr. Merrie Burl Walker was born on November 19, 1931 to the late Odie Burl and Minnie Purtell Walker in the Melrose Community of Lockesburg, Arkansas. Burl graduated from Lockesburg High School in 1949, then attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville then transferred to Oklahoma State University. He was drafted into the army and did his training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. While AWOL from the Army, he married Ikey Gene Terry of Ben Lomond on July 26, 1953, he was able to return to the fort without being known he was gone. Burl was an ace tennis player and in basketball in high school. He was also accomplished self taught artist. His funds were limited and would create colors from house paint and melted crayons, then would paint his canvases of window shades, and any other materials he would find. after the Army, Burl and Ikey moved to Dallas, Texas where Burl post man and entered barber school. In 1960, they moved to Ashdown, Arkansas, built a home and a business that lasted until his retirement. Burl also had an amazing ability with animals of all kinds, he could get an animal to do things others could not, and he shared this ability with his granddaughter. He was a member of Central Baptist Church from 1960. Burl served as a Sunday School Superintendent for over 25 years and was a deacon in the church as well. Burl is survived by his wife Ikey Terry Walker of Ashdown; a daughter and son-in-law Jeanenne Vowell and Mike Vowell; granddaughter Jessie Vowell Giese and spouse Phil Giese all of Little Rock, Ark.; a grandson, Joseph Beaty of Phoenix, Ariz. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Central Baptist Church or the Humane Society. Funeral services will be Friday June 10, 2016 at 2 p.m. at Madden Funeral Home in Ashdown burial will follow at Wright Chapel Cemetery in Lockesburg. Tommy Hall will be officiating. Don Embry will be assisting.