Well known resident passes
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With last week’s passing of Phoebe Burke Wilson, McCreary County lost a multi faceted lifelong resident. Born in 1942 to Nip and Evelyn Anderson Perkins, Phoebe grew up with parents who were well known within the local Republican party. Phoebe married Ralph “Sonny” Burke at a young age. In addition to marrying and raising their family, the couple worked together throughout the years as a business team, and for a time operated the Stearns Golf Course Clubhouse. Phoebe was an avid golfer, and once even became the Ladies Club Champion at Stearns Golf Course. The couple’s business ventures continued as they established and operated Sonny’s One Hour Photography, a photo and camera shop in Whitley City.
As a popular licensed beautician, Phoebe’s business expertise spilled over for more than thirty years into the operation of her own beauty shop. Later in life, Phoebe obtained her teaching degree and pursued a career in teaching. For twenty-five years at Whitley City Elementary, she proudly taught and watched her students succeed.
After Sonny’s death, Phoebe traveled extensively. In 2022, she married Cleo Wilson. Always drawn to people, Phoebe enjoyed her family and friends.
“When you knew Phoebe, you loved Phoebe. and she loved you,” Hap Strunk, who was a dear friend of Phoebe’s, said. “I never heard her speak a bad word about anyone. She was very accomplished-just a wonderful human being. If I had to describe her in just two words, those words would be “classy” and “elegant.”
A complete obituary for Phoebe Burke Wilson is on page A5