Loah Burkett

Loah “Joyce” Burkett, 84, of West Palm Beach, Florida, passed away Sunday, May 20, 2012, at Palms West Hospital in West Palm Beach. Services will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, June 9, 2012, at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Burial will follow at Spring Run Cemetery in St. Joseph. Friends may visit from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Friday, June 9, 2012, at Starks & Menchinger Chapel. Joyce Burkett was born on January 25, 1928, in Benton Harbor, Michigan to Martin and Dorothy Staley. She and her family resided in the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor area for many years where she most recently served as Vice-President of Mar-Kay Development, former owners of the St. Joseph and Benton Harbor Holiday Inns. She will always be remembered by her friends and family for her free-spirited, fun-loving and flamboyant lifestyle. Ms. Burkett was a loving sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She was preceded in death by her sister, Martha Letke, and husbands Warren Roth, Carl Yordanich and J.V. Burkett. She is survived by her sisters, Jean Skinner (Sarasota, FL), Doris Modelewski (Indian River, FL), and brother Doug Kolb (Branson, MO); sons, Ron Roth (Austin, TX) and Dan Yordanich (Manchester, MI); grandchildren, Andrea Roth-Greene and Brighitta Flores (Roth), and Logan, Rachael and Lauren (Yordanich); great-grandchildren Vivianne and Ava (Greene), and Julian Garcia, Evan and Alivia (Flores); and loving friend and partner Arby Cobb.