Mary Burkhart

Mary Lillian Burkhart, age 89, of Aquilla, Texas, passed peacefully in her home on October 28, 2025. Funeral services will take place at 10:00 AM, Saturday, November 1, 2025, at Lebanon Church in Aquilla, with burial to follow at New Lebanon Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Friday, October 31, 2025, at Marshall and Marshall Funeral Directors in Hillsboro.

She was born in Aquilla, Texas on May 22, 1936, to Tom "GT" and Lillie (Adams) Montgomery. Mary graduated from Aquilla High School in 1954. She and her friend, Mary Alice Stone, sang on KHBR Radio during her high school years. They were known as the "Mary Singers" and Willie Nelson's band played for them.

Mary and Gene Burkhart were married on August 18, 1956. They met on a blind date set up by friends, but not before Gene made a dental appointment where Mary worked as a dental assistant, to have his teeth cleaned, so he could see what she looked like. It turns out that it was a perfect match, and they were married just short of forty-three years. Together they had four children, Jerry, Patsy, Marilyn, and Danny.

Mary was a homemaker and a secretary at Gene's Auto Service where she and Gene worked side by side. Mary enjoyed holidays and cooking for her family and welcomed everyone to Sunday dinner each week where no one ever left hungry.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Tom and Lillie Montgomery; her husband and love of her life, Gene Burkhart; her oldest son, Jerry Burkhart; and brothers, Billy Montgomery, Tommy Joe and wife, Peggy Montgomery; and great-granddaughter Riley Jean Burkhart.

Mary is survived by her children; Patsy Cook, Marilyn Burkhart, Danny Burkhart and wife, Tammy; daughter-in-law, Rhonda Burkhart; thirteen grandchildren, Rickey Cook and wife Brandy, Regina Winder and husband, Arty, Rusty Cook, Pam Abrego, Allen McCutchan and wife, Jennifer, Mark Hill and wife, Amanda, Joshua Hill and wife, Caitlin, Clint Burkhart, Melissa Elizondo and husband, Trenton, Brittany Goff and husband, Austin, Brett Burkhart, Haley Carmona and husband, Mark, Meagan Sullivan and husband, Caleb, Phillip Burkhart and Natalie Tapia; twenty-five great-grandchildren; fifteen great-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Judy Montgomery; nieces, Pam Ender and husband, Melvin, and Amanda Buzan and husband, Charles; and nephews, Steve Montgomery and wife, Benita, and Craig Montgomery and wife, Kim.

Memorials can be made to the Lebanon Church, PO Box 212, Aquilla, Texas 76622, or the New Lebanon Cemetery, 881 FM 2114, Aquilla, Texas 76622.