Mary Paxton Burks

Mary Paxton Burks passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by her children, on February 19, 2026. She was 91.

Mary was born in Topeka, Kansas, on Sept. 6, 1934, to Virginia Lee Cheatham and Richard Hume Paxton. As a young child, she lived in Mexico with her family where her father managed a ranch that shipped tomatoes to the Midwest. She spent her school years in Kansas City, Missouri, and moved to Hyde Park in Chicago in 1960.

Mary was an active member of the Hyde Park community, volunteering for the 57th Street Art Fair; Bargains, Unlimited, a charity resale shop; and numerous political campaigns while raising her three children. She was a member of the Hyde Park Union Church for many years.

In 1977 she earned her Master of Library Science at the University of Chicago and served as a librarian at the University High School for more than 20 years. Mary was a much-loved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who delighted in keeping her far flung family connected and telling stories at family gatherings. Family and friends describe her as positive, caring, helpful, funny, and good at making oatmeal cookies.

Mary is survived by her three children Ann Sagan (Paul Sagan), Richard Burks (Mary Jill Burks), Virginia Salzer (Mark Salzer); ten grandchildren, Katharine Coleman, Michael Sagan, Emma Sagan, Caroline Peterleithner, Sarah Young, Joshua Salzer, Benjamin Salzer, Joseph Salzer, Jill Tyler and Nikki Tyler; eight great-grandchildren, and her sister, Ann Cameron. A private celebration of her life is planned for later this year in Chatham, New York.

Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals - Skokie Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com.