Don Newell Burkart

Don Newell Burkart, age 56, passed away at home unexpectedly of natural causes on Monday morning, September 11, 2017. Newell, as he was called by family members, was born on September 30, 1960, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was a longtime resident of Jackson County and lived in Vancleave, Mississippi for the past 21 years. Having graduated from Mississippi State University with a B. S. Degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1983, he was a loyal Bulldog fan. Because his interests included a passion for movies and books, he was a frequent patron of the local libraries. His daily walks to the creek with his dogs showed his love for animals and nature. Although he was reserved in general, he loved to tease and play pranks on those close to him. His bank of knowledge, curiosity, and technical research skills were so vast, family relied on him as their personal Google. The expression, "Still waters run deep" described him to a T. Survivors include his parents, Donald and Betty Burkart of Vancleave; his sister, Susan (Doug) Waggle, and their daughter, Riley Waggle of Pace, Florida; his sister, Sandy Howard, and her three children, daughter, Logan (Thom) Betts, and sons, Craig and Trent Howard of Westfield, New York. The immediate family will have a private gathering following the cremation by Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Harrison or Jackson County libraries.