Skee Cameron Burkes

Skee Cameron Burkes took his last ride on this earth on September 9, 2023. He lived how he wanted and he left doing what he loved.

Skee was born in Prescott, Arizona on April 17, 1997, to Jeffrey and Dee Ann Burkes. They moved to Texas before his first birthday.  From birth he was a lover of animals, surrounding himself with any dogs, cats, and horses he could find, as well as an occasional bottle calf. From a young age, he had a distinct aptitude for playing music by ear – he could listen to a song on the radio and go home and peck it out on his toy keyboard. He started his art career early – on the walls of his room with crayons. He loved history and historic icons. His early influencers were Jesus and Davy Crockett.  Skee learned about Jesus as a young boy at the McLean Baptist and Methodist Churches and was baptized at the age of 10 in the Christoval Baptist Church. He was convicted in his beliefs and enjoyed sharing the good news of Christ with anyone he came in contact with.

As Skee grew into a young man he became an adept horseman, competing in many disciplines – cutting, reining, working cow horse, team penning, team roping and bronc riding. He and the family’s horse, Smarty, were a dynamic duo winning over 50 buckles together in multiple events competing in 4-H, North Texas High School Rodeo, AQHA and NRCHA organizations. He and his buddies loved traveling to rodeos to pull flanks and cheer each other on in the ranch bronc riding. He loved the smell of arena dirt and horse sweat with great music playing over the loudspeakers – a go-round check was just a bonus. His artistic talent was constantly being expressed through doodles on anything he could find – fence posts, tabletops, walls, his arm...the canvas options were limitless. He loved to draw and was also a very talented sculpture artist.

Skee marched to the beat of his own drum and his musical talents and interests were vast. Elvis was at the top of the list, followed closely by Bob Dylan, Buddy Holly and AC/DC. He played any instrument he could pick up and he knew a song or mood to fit every experience. Music was his outlet and he took his guitar with him wherever he went, to either strum for himself or have a pop-up mini concert for any audience that gathered. Custom leather creations were another creative outlet Skee enjoyed. His Arizona roots inspired some awesome moccasins, as well as intricate purses and cowboy chaps. He had a fashion style all his own and loved anything retro or vintage – popped collar and great shades, or Elvis glasses when handy. He lived in Lubbock, Texas and was employed by Pronghorn Oil as a field supervisor at the time of his passing.

Skee lived life “no-fences” style – there was always a new adventure just over the horizon. Someone cool to meet, something fun to do, some way to take the ordinary and make it extraordinary. And every moment of it was a memory for anyone with him.  To know him was to love him.  He lived life on his terms from the get-go and left on top of the world, in true Skee style.

Skee was a graduate of Henrietta High School. He leaves behind many friends and many memories. He is survived by his father Jeffrey Burkes and wife, Diane of Fredericksburg, Texas. His mother Dee Ann and husband, Chris Littlefield of Henrietta, Texas,  Sisters; Kalico Burkes and Laycee Littlefield, Brother, Levi Littlefield. Grandparents Dean and Shawn Cameron of Pine, Arizona and Grandmother Joann Charles of Devils Lake, North Dakota. Uncle is Brooks (and Melissa) Cameron, and aunts Kacie (and Danny) Tomerlin and Natalie (and Darren) Waddell, as well as many cousins and extended family.  Pall bearers are Jake Nanny, Shawn Nanny, Braiden Obermier, Chance Horn, Keaton Davis, Caden Robinson, Kason King, Leo Hunter and Wyatt Crawford.

Graveside services are being coordinated by Zapata Funeral Home in Matador Texas. Skee will be laid to rest at the Burkes Family plot at the Matador cemetery on Wednesday, September 13 at 11 a.m. There will be a memorial service for Skee at the Henrietta Cowboy Church on Sunday, September 17 at 2 p.m. with Davis Funeral Home in Henrietta handling the service.