Johnnie Nell Burke, who preferred to be called Nell, was born April 8, 1931 in Carbon Hill, Alabama, the oldest daughter of Johnny C and Mary Ethel Estes. She went to be with the Lord on February 18, 2012.

Nell is survived by her husband Don Burke; sons David Burke and Shawn Burke both of Austin, Texas; sister Betty Ann Dolby of Bessemer, Alabama; and brother James Thomas Estes of Poplarville, Mississippi. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Charles Ray Estes, Johnny C. Estes Jr., Bobby E. Estes, William (Billy) Joe Estes; and sister Frances Rebecca Doonan.

Nell was a graduate of Alabama’s Fayette County High School and moved to Selma, Alabama where her father was a Conductor for the Southern Railroad. It was in Selma that she met and married her husband on October 3, 1958 who was stationed at Craig AFB. She then became a military wife for the next twenty four years. Nell worked part time in the day care centers at Fairview Baptist Church and Bethlehem Lutheran Church. She also worked part time in the Records Management Department at Austin Community College from 1989 until she retired in 2005.

Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 2620 S. Congress Ave. Funeral services will be at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 22nd in the Weed-Corley-Fish Chapel. Burial will be 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 23rd at Prairie Hill Cemetery, Prairie Hill, Texas.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Faith Baptist Church in Austin, Texas where Johnnie “Nell” was an active member.