Harrill Don Burdett was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma in 1936 to William Harrill and Fern (Towry) Burdett. Their family home was near the coal mine outside Porum, Oklahoma, where he attended Porum City Schools.
In 1951, the family moved to Checotah, Oklahom, where Don graduated from Checotah High School in 1954. He graduated from Northeastern State College in 1959 with a BS in math. He later went on to receive a Master’s degree in math from Oklahoma State University.
Don taught math in Hanna, Edmond and Sapulpa schools, and in 1970 became registrar at Bacone Junior College. After that he returned to teaching math as well as computer science at Checotah High School where he was a much-loved teacher and an integral part of the community for over 20 years.
After retiring from Checotah High School, he moved to Florida and became a PACE teacher with the US Navy teaching college math classes to active-duty sailors on Navy ships while traveling around the world where he went to six of the seven continents.
He finally retired for good after 18 years as a PACE teacher and moved to Altamonte Springs, Florida near his son’s family.
Don loved his Oklahoma State Cowboys. He also loved hunting and fishing, working on sports cars, swimming, scuba diving, creative arts and traveling. His signed original paintings were given as gifts to friends and family. He loved to talk about his travels and made friends everywhere he went around the world.
Don loved to just sit and talk about his life and the friends and people he had known around the world.
During one of his travels to Romania, Don had a heart attack, and was moved to write this statement: “I want all to know that I have enjoyed a life of love of family and friends and am grateful for the happiness and good times shared by all. Thanks to the Lord.”
Don is survived by his daughter Annalisa (Gene) Wittum and his son William (Lee) Burdett; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; his former wife Adlaide Y. Oakley and step-children Anthony (Freida) Oakley, Maraeka Culbreth, and RaShanna (Michael) Wright; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his three brothers Jimmy (Mary Ann) Burdett, Jack (Beverly) Burdett, and Ted (Dana) Burdett, and many nieces and nephews. His family will forever love and miss him.
Memorial service will be Saturday February 17, 2024, at 10 a.m. at Checotah Church of Christ, 305 E. Gentry Ave., Checotah, OK 74426.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in support of the Mathematics Department General Endowed Scholarship fund at the OSU Foundation.
Checks should be made payable to the OSU Foundation and mailed to PO Box 1749 – Stillwater, OK 740761749 or gifts can be made online at osugiving. com (https://secure. osugiving.com/s/giving/ annual?dsgt=22-53600). Please note your donation is in memory of Don Burdett.
