From The Oak Ridger 3 Nov 2004 Eugene A. "Drew" Burcham Jr., 43, of Harriman, Ray Clay Cate, 83, of Oliver Springs, Robert Pritchett George, 79, of Oak Ridge, David Francis Harper, 36, of Hot Springs, Ark., Janie Mae Thurman Kirksey, 86, of Oak Ridge, Eugene A. "Drew" Burcham Jr., 43, of Harriman, died Nov. 1, 2004, at Roane Medical Center in Harriman. Born Sept. 28, 1961, in Clinton, he was the son of Shirley Wilder Burcham of Oak Ridge and Eugene Andrew Burcham, who died Dec. 15, 1968. Mr. Burcham was employed with the city of Oak Ridge, where he worked as a mechanic. According to his family, he enjoyed building and driving off-road rail buggies, and also building race engines. He was an avid flower gardener and he also enjoyed cooking. In addition to his mother, Mr. Burcham is survived by his wife of 24 years, Julie Holtzclaw Burcham; his brother, Bruce Burcham and wife, Kim, of Oak Ridge; his sister, Therese Burcham, of Marlow community; his nephews, Brandon Burcham, a seventh grader at Robertsville Middle School, and Andrew Burcham, a first grader at Linden Elementary School; his beloved Doberman pinscher Bonnie; and all his very special friends including those with whom he worked and his off-road buddies. The funeral will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2004, in the chapel of Weatherford Mortuary with Bruce Gouge officiating. A graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4, at Oak Ridge Memorial Park. The family requests that any memorials be in the form of contributions to the American Heart Association, Southeast Affiliate, P.O. Box 409410, Atlanta, GA 30384-9410. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the mortuary. An on-line guest book can be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com Ray Clay Cate, 83, of Oliver Springs, died Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2004, at the Lake City Health Care Center. Born March 14, 1921, in Kodak, he was the son of Roy and Lula Cate. He lived in Oliver Springs for 42 years. Mr. Cate was a member of First Baptist Church in Oliver Springs. He was also a member of the Omega Masonic Lodge, No. 536, F&AM, in Oliver Springs. He retired from South Central Bell as a PBX technician after 35 years of service. He was also a A U.S. Air Force veteran of World War II. According to his family, Mr. Cate was a loving husband, father and grandfather. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Theda M. Cate, his second wife, Mary F. Cate, and a sister and two brothers, Helen Houk, Ed Cate and Hugh Cate. Mr. Cate is survived by his son, John Cate and wife, Judy, of Wichita, Kansas; his daughter, Jane Halcomb and husband, Mark, of Clinton; his sister, Elizabeth Norris of Knoxville; his grandsons, Nicholas Cate and wife, Melissa, of Fort Worth, Texas, and Andrew Halcomb and Foster Halcomb, both of Clinton; and by several nieces, nephews, and extended family members and friends. The funeral will be at 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4, 2004, in the chapel of the Sharp Funeral Home in Oliver Springs with Dr. Paul Frick officiating. A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 5, 2004, at Anderson Memorial Gardens, Oliver Springs Highway. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Robert Pritchett George, 79, of Oak Ridge, died Monday, Nov. 1, 2004, at NHC Healthcare of Oak Ridge. Born Oct. 9, 1925, in Sharon, Pa., he was the son of Robert and Louise Pritchett George. Mr. George was an electrical engineer and retired from Martin Marietta Energy Systems in 1988. He was a member of Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ellen Hollis George, in December 1987; his brother, William C. George, in July 2000; and his daughter, Carol George, in November 1977. Mr. George is survived by his daughters, Laura McGinnis and husband, Jim of Oxford, Ala., and Gayle Harvey and husband, Dan, of Clinton; and his grandchildren, Amy McGinnis, Colleen McGinnis and Alex McGinnis, all of Oxford. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church with Rev. Dr. Craig M. Kallio officiating. Burial will be in the church Memory Garden. The family will receive friends after the memorial service in the church Parish Hall. The family asks that any memorials be in the form of contributions to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942. Weatherford Mortuary is handling the arrangements. An on-line guest book may be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com David Francis Harper, 36, of Hot Springs, Ark., died Monday, Oct. 25, 2004, in Hot Springs from injuries he sustained in a a motorcycle crash. Born March 11, 1968, in Oak Ridge, he was the son of Joe Carl Harper of Clinton and Frances Harper Cheek of Hot Springs. He is preceded in death by a sister and a brother, Carla Harper Herring and Joseph Charles Harper. In addition to his father and mother, Mr. Harper is survived by his wife, Lilian, his sons, Christopher and Gabriel, and his daughter, Charlene, all of Hot Springs; his daughters, Carina Harper of Texas and Catherine Harper of Henderson; and his sons, Jonathan Harper and Alex Harper of Arkansas. He is also survived by his stepmother, Nancy Harper of Clinton; his step-brother, Martin Hennessee, of Oak Ridge, and Mary Hatmaker and husband, Brian, of Clinton. The funeral was held Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2004, in Hot Springs. Burial was in Benton, Ark. Caruth-Hale Funeral Home in Hot Springs was in charge of arrangements. Janie Mae Thurman Kirksey, 86, of Oak Ridge, died Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2004, at Hillcrest West Nursing Home in Knoxville. Weatherford Mortuary is handling the arrangements, which were incomplete at presstime. =========================================== SUPPORT OUR TROOPS---FLY THE FLAG "Genealogy is like playing hide and seek. They hide I seek!!! www.byrge.com/genealogy/ Searching: BYRGE/BUNCH/DAUGHERTY/DUNCAN/KENNEDY/ PATTERSON/PHILLIPS/SEIBER/TACKETT/WARD