- Date Of Birth: November 10, 1941
- Date Of Death: November 25, 2017
- State: Michigan
Burkey, Jeff Ray, Jeff passed away peacefully at Rose Arbor Hospice Residence surrounded by family on Saturday, November 25, 2017, at the age of 76. Jeff was born November 10, 1941 in Kalamazoo to the late Boyd and Theda (Finzer) Burkey. A graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School class of 1959, he later served in the U.S. Air Force as an airplane mechanic until honorably discharged in September 1966. Jeff was employed at the Upjohn Company for 30 years. In 1986 he received the W. E. Upjohn Award as acknowledgement by both his customers and area engineers for his performance as a pipefitter.
Surviving Jeff are his wife, MerriKay Oleen-Burkey; his children, Joel (Deborah) Burkey and David (Julie) Burkey and their mother Sally (Michael) Pickens; 5 grandchildren, Cole, Raeann, Madeline, Joseph, and Samuel; brother, Kim (Leilani) Burkey; niece, Brett (Nicholas) Toman; godson, Jeff Anderson; and other relatives and friends. Jeff was preceded in death by his parents, and his in-laws, Stet and Jo Catton; and Walt and Virginia Oleen.
