Miriam Burke

1944 - 2022

Miriam (Dusty) Burke
09/20/1944 - 10/07/2022
Miriam Grace McEvoy Burke ("Dusty") was born in Santa Monica, California, on September 20, 1944. She died of cancer in Houston, Texas on October 7, 2022, at the age of 78.

Dusty received her undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado and her law degree from the University of Texas School of Law in 1968, where she was one of only six women in her class. After law school, Dusty taught law courses at the University of St. Thomas for 17 years and then went on to practice law with Vinson & Elkins LLP for 20 years, first as an associate and then as a partner, in both Houston and Austin, Texas. After retiring, Dusty spent time serving as a member of the Board of Trustees of Felician University, traveling, studying French, reading, running, playing the piano, and visiting her children and grandchildren.

Dusty received numerous honors in her life. She was named homecoming queen at the University of Colorado in 1964 and was featured in the 2014 Texas Monthly article "A Woman Had a Place, and It was Not Out Practicing Law," describing her trailblazing life as a woman in law school in the 1960s. She also received the distinguished alumna award from the University of Texas School of Law in 2014.

Dusty was an accomplished runner. She ran many marathons, placing second in the Houston Marathon in 1978 and finishing the 1979 Boston Marathon in under 3 hours. She continued racing as a masters runner, winning her age group in the Houston half-marathon several times. She was also an avid hiker, traveling to the Swiss and French Alps, the Canadian Rockies, and Colorado, where she summited Pikes Peak at the age of 60. For many summers she organized group hikes in the town of Eagles Mere, Pennsylvania, and was instrumental in mapping the trails of the area.

Dusty's family and friends will remember her energy, wit, optimism, intellect, beauty, and generosity. She adored talking to people, listening and learning, and usually asking overly detailed follow-up questions. She laughed easily and contagiously, especially when in the company of her steadfast best friends. She loved butter and Coca Cola (only at room temperature!) and was unable to walk through a room without cleaning it. Above all, she was an incredible mother and grandmother. The ultimate cheerleader, she put notes in lunches, volunteered at schools, and attended countless games, matches, and recitals, no matter how inconvenient for her schedule. When visiting her children in college, she organized huge dinners, always finding space at the table for one more friend. She was present at almost every birthday of her children and grandchildren and frequently had written a poem for the occasion. She loved to take her children and grandchildren on trips-New York City, Paris, Vail, and Banff, among other places. She made everything fun and will be forever missed.

Dusty was preceded in death by her parents, Earl Edward McEvoy and Miriam Rafferty McEvoy, by her sister Judith McEvoy Repke, and by her loving aunt and uncle, Beth and Bryan Smith. Dusty is survived by her three children: John (Josie) Burke of Denver, CO; Anne (Mike) Buckingham of Daufuskie Island, SC, and Betsy Burke and her husband Hans Reuter of Rye, NY. She will miss being called "GranDust" by her twelve beautiful grandchildren: Blakeley, Graydon, Britton, Lachlan, Huntley, and Langley Buckingham; Sadie and Chase Burke; and Mackey, Rafe, Nell, and Charlie Reuter. Also surviving Dusty are her sister, Phyllis McEvoy Hyland, her brother, Earl Edward McEvoy, her former husband William R. Burke, Jr., and her seven "sibling cousins": Trish, Buck, Jim, Peter, Michael, and Paul Smith and Mary Waller).

If desired, memorial contributions in Dusty's memory may be sent to St. Anne Catholic Church in Houston, Texas or to Felician University in Rutherford, New Jersey.