The Whitewright Sun Thursday, September 26, 1940 pg. 5 J.H. (Handy) Burkett, 63, was found dead at his farm south of Whitemound at 4:30 a.m. Thursday, a bullet found back of his right ear, after he had gone out with a pistol and flashlight when he heard a noise at the chicken house. Marks on the ground indicated that he stumbled and fell, his elbow striking the ground and causing the gun to fire. He apparently died without a struggle. The chickens had been molested by some small animal for several nights, it was reported. Mrs. Burkett said she heard a shot after her husband went outside. When he did not return she went out to hunt for him, passing by the body on her way to the chicken house in the darkness. As she turned to go to the barn, she stumbled against the body. Justice of Peace W.H. Horton of Whitewright held an inquest and rendered a verdict of death resulting from accidental gunshot wound. Funeral services were held Friday afternoon at the Tom Bean Baptist Church. Mr. Burkett was born February 5, 1877, a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. F.A. Burkett and lived all his life in the Whitemound community except two years spent in Collin County. He was married to Miss Minnie Ireland at Howe on February 28, 1897. To this union five children were born, three of whom survive. Surviving are his wife; a son, Leonard Burkett of Gladewater; two daughters, Mrs. Donald B. Bryant of Alba and Mrs. Bonnie Kay of near Jamison; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.  Ray Burkett 22 February 1898 - 12 August 1902 s/o Handy & Minnie Burkett Whitemound Cemetery Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |
