Roll Call Tribute

Cyril N. Burke 

August 25, 1942 - April 14, 2024 

Stoney Burke, 81, of Cypress, TX was welcomed in to heaven on Sunday, April 14, 2024. Visitation will begin at 11 am, until the time of service at 12 pm, Friday, April 19, 2024, at First Baptist Church in Navasota, Texas. Interment will follow in Oakland Cemetery of Navasota. Although Stoney was a member of Fairfield Baptist Church in Cypress, Texas, services will be under the direction of Nobles Funeral Chapel in Navasota.

Stoney was born to his parents, Ruben Andrew and Irene Rose Burke, on Tuesday, August 25, 1942, in Bryan, Texas. He grew up in First Baptist Church of College Station and would complete his public education in the College Station School District at A&M Consolidated High School. Stoney followed his high school football career into college at Texas A&M University where he graduated in 1970 with a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration.

After graduating from Texas A&M, he worked for 21 years at Texas Employer’s Insurance as a claims manager. He then went to work as a hearing officer for Phillips and Akers Law Firm for another 11 years. His last job was at Dean Pappas Law Firm as an Administrative Hearing Director for another 9 years where he decided to retire for good in 2011.

While attending school, he was working, playing sports and serving in the Army Reserves. He was a busy young man looking for his bride at the same time. He married his life-long love, best friend, and confidant, Bobbie Jean Thane; they married on June 25, 1966, in Navasota at Trinity Lutheran Church. She and Stoney would welcome two bright and beautiful girls into their family, Amy and Kelli.

Stoney spent 23 years playing fast pitch softball in leagues all over the city. Softball became his biggest passion which he then instilled in his daughters. He coached their teams starting at a young age and was their biggest supporter throughout their childhood and into their adulthood. While coaching his girls, he decided to join ASA in 1987 serving as the president of the girls softball league North West Sport Association. He also served as the president of the Coastal Girls Softball Association from 1989-1991 and became the founder of the Greater Houston Girls Softball Association which is currently the governing body of the girls youth softball leagues for Houston.

After his girls were finished with their softball careers, Stoney still had such a drive and passion to continue being involved with the world of softball. He continued to coach many talented girls for a few more years, most of whom went on to play in college and a few who played for the Softball Women’s Olympic team. After hanging up his hat for coaching, he knew his passion to be involved needed to continue. He became the JO Commissioner for the Houston area in 1992 which led to him becoming the Houston Commissioner for USA Softball in 2010 thru the present. Anyone who is involved in softball, near and far, knows Stoney by his first name; his influence in USA Softball impacted so many young individuals along the way. Stoney leaves an amazing legacy in the world of softball.

As much as Stoney was involved with softball, he also had a passion for camping and spending weekends traveling with family and friends. Being in nature and having quality family time was always most important. In the evenings and during down time, he loved watching the Astros, Dallas Cowboys, Aggie Football, and honestly any sporting event. Once girls softball started airing on TV, all other sports took the back burner.

Ultimately, the sports enthusiast would set his sports aside to be the very proud “Papaw” to his five grandchildren, His life was truly complete with each birth of these babies and then to witness their growing into adulthood.

Stoney is preceded in death by his parents, Ruben and Irene Burke; his sister, Priscilla Jane Cook.

Stoney is survived by his wife, of 58 years, Bobbie Burke; his daughter, Amy and husband, Brian Grein; his daughter, Kelli and husband, Dave Kubicki; his grandchildren, Mallory Grein, Mason Grein, Kaleb Kubicki, Kaiden Kubicki, and Kasen Kubicki; his brother, Oswald “Ozzie” and wife, Dianna Burke; his brother-in-law, Randall Cook; and numerous nieces and nephews and close friends.

Honoring the life of Stoney as Pallbearers are family members Brian Grein, David Kubicki, Mason Grein,Clay Bosse, Kyle Bosse, Ross Burke, and Jonathan Burke; members of ASA Wayne Straty, Mike Byerley, Brian Mount, Rob Plocheck, John Scott, and Joe Oliverez.

In lieu of flowers your memorial donations are kindly requested to be given to First Baptist Church of Navasota or Fairfield Baptist in Cypress.