JESSE RAY BURGER
Jesse Ray Burger, longtime resident of Medina, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019, in a San Antonio hospital. He was 79 years old.
He was born Oct. 10, 1940 in Hondo, Texas to Jesse Burger and Velma Schmidt Burger.
Jesse Ray grew up on the family ranch in Tarpley, where he attended the one-room school. Later, he started school in Medina and rode the bus from Tarpley.
Eventually the family moved to Medina, where Jesse Ray spent the rest of his life. He was a 1959 graduate of Medina High School.
Jesse Ray also served his country honorably in the United States Army.
The farming and ranching industry were an integral part of his life. Jesse Ray had a passion for the Angora goat industry, as well as raising and breeding hogs for show animals.
He especially loved the outdoors and nature, with a special interest in arrowhead hunting. Jesse Ray also loved to deer hunt, trap predators, fish and hang out at livestock auctions.
He drank coffee every morning with his friends at Keese’s Barbecue or the Medina Old Timer. His heart bled blue-and-gold, and he was known as Mr. Burger to all of the youth in Medina. He was a huge supporter of the Medina Bobcat Athletic program.
While he supported all of the athletes, he took pride in watching his granddaughters Hailey and Kaila play softball and his great grandson, Justin, play football and baseball.
He rarely missed an athletic event and had a Medina ISD Lifetime Activity Pass. In fact, he often gave words of wisdom to the coaches on what needed to be done or how he would have done things.
He was a supporter of the Bandera County Junior Livestock Show Association and had a good eye for choosing quality livestock animals. He was a lifetime farmer, rancher and carpenter. He also was amazingly talented with woodworking and making cedar rocking chairs.
Jesse Ray was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Barbara, and his two sons Bobby and Lesley Burger.
He is survived by his daughter Cammie Morgan and her husband Steve; sister Margie Doran and her husband Jim; brother David Burger and his wife Sue; grandchildren Hailey Marie Morgan, Kaila Elizabeth Morgan, Crystal Flores and husband John, Jessica Burger and Joshua Burger; great grandchildren Justin Dale, Ryan Dale, Skyler Cleveland and Ashlyn Cleveland; numerous nieces, nephews and many extended family members and treasured friends.
He will be missed.
The family received friends from 4 – 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 16, at Grimes Funeral Chapels of Bandera.
A service took place at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 17, at the Medina United Methodist Church with Pastor Bill Stegemueller officiating.
Interment followed at Oak Rest Cemetery with military honors. Pallbearers included Daryl Burger, Troy Baker, Clint Beckham, Shayne Beckham, Fred Sides, Joel Sides, James Arthur “Cricket” Dale and Robert Ashley.
Honorary Pallbearers are childhood friend Lawrence Ross, Dale and Bonnie Naumann, Justin Dale, Mildred Rich Kanak, Robert and Elizabeth McCoy, Medina Coffee Drinkers and all friends from Tarpley, Bandera, Medina and the entire Hill Country area.
For those who desire, memorials may be made to Bandera County Junior Livestock Association, the Medina United Methodist Church, Medina FFA or the Medina Athletic Booster Club.