Holly Burke, a beloved resident of Rock Springs, passed away peacefully on Friday, September 11, 2026, at the age of 71. Born on July 1, 1955, in Altoona, Pennsylvania, she was the cherished daughter of the late Howard C. McIntire and Betty Mort.
Holly attended schools in Pennsylvania, graduating from Altoona High School in 1973. She dedicated 23 years of her professional life at Jim Bridger Power Plant, retiring with distinction on May 19, 2005 as a warehouseman.
Holly married the love of her life, Darrell Glenn Burke, on April 1, 1993, in Rock Springs, where they built a life full of love and cherished memories.
Holly made several quilts in various stages of completion for loved ones. Before she passed, some of her loved friends, took and finished those also making quilted bags that Holly had bought on her last trip to a quilt store to give her friends but was unable to finish. As friends would come to see her, she would give them a bag while singing, Thank you For Being My Friend. Holly was able to give quilts to her son, granddaughter, great twin granddaughters, and Button & Pearl Sue’s, Auntie Jane, received a very special doodle quilt. Holly cherished her family and friends.
She was a member of several quilting organizations including Sweetwater Piecemakers, Sweetwater County Quilting Guild, and Wyoming State Quilt Guild. She assisted in sewing multiple opportunity quilts for the southwest region. She loved to attend the Quilt Wyoming events, Quilting on the Green, and Hunter’s Widow Retreat. Her joy was finding the perfect fabric and pattern to make a quilt top and then long arm the quilt to give to friends, family, and well as making raffle quilts for the organizations she belonged to.
No one brought her more joy than Zach. He was the sunshine on her shoulders. He entered her life at a perfect time. The first Christmas we had him we put him under the tree in his car seat and put a bow on his head. He was her best present ever, and things had only gotten better when he brought Sierra and Casen in to her life and then gave us Nixon.
A devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Holly is survived by her husband Darrell G. Burke of Rock Springs; her son, Zachary G. Burke and his wife Sierra of Rock Springs; her sisters, Jeannie Johnson and Sandra Yon, both of Altoona, Pennsylvania; her adored grandchildren, Kiarra Zampedri, Casen Burke, and Nixon Burke; and three great-grandchildren, Rori, Roxi, and Remi. She also leaves behind her beloved niece, Elizabeth Mearkle.
Holly was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Carol McCracken, and her daughter, Amie Dowdall and favorite aunt, Bonnalee Schiebold also known as Aunt B.
Holly’s legacy is one of love, warmth, and creativity, evidenced by her intricate quilts and the beautiful memories she leaves with her family. She found immense joy in her quilting pursuits, with rooms and closets brimming with quilting supplies, and also cherished time spent with her ‘doodles’, her son, and her grandchildren.
A celebration of Holly’s life and contributions to her family and community will be scheduled following her cremation.
During this difficult time, the family invites you to leave condolences and share memories at www.vasefuneralhomes.com.
The family respectfully requests donations in Holly’s memory be made to Hospice of Sweetwater County, 333 Broadway Street, Suite 220, Rock Springs, Wyoming, Red Desert Humane Society, 310 Yellowstone Road, Rock Springs, Wyoming 82901.
In honor of Holly’s life, may we cherish the beauty of family, the joy of creativity, and the warmth of shared memories.
