Mr. Alton Burkhalter, Jr., in his 56th year, left this life for eternity on Aprkl 25, 2006 from Houston, Texas.

Service of remembrance will be held on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 at 11:00 A.M. in Mt. Olive Star Baptist Church, west of Checotah, Oklahoma. Rev. Sam Cunningham, the gracious host Pastor and Rev. Marcus Burkhalter, Officiating.

Burial will follow in Hawkins Cemetery at Hoffman, Oklahoma.

Named after his father, Alton was born on December 3, 1949 to Alton and Zetta Maxine [McGriff] Burkhalter, Sr.

He attended primary and secondary schools in Tulsa and Checotah, Oklahoma, before graduating from Checotah High School in 1968. He continued his education at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, later earning his BS degree from Spartan School of Aeronautics.

Alton relocated to Houston, Texas, where he worked in the Oil and Manufacturing industry, conducting and leading radiology and quality control functions for various contractors. He enjoyed many hobbies, none more passionate than calf roping and rodeo's. He enjoyed musica and played guitar most of his adult life casually and accompanied the choir at Greater Zion on the Bass Guitar in Houston.

Remaining to wait on the Lord; his 3 sons, Keenan Sean, Sheldon Marquise and Jermaine Mendez Burkhalter; a step-son, Derrick Lamar Jordan; 2 step-daughters, Heidi Michelle Byrd and Erricka Michelle Luster; 23 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; his parents, Zetta Maxine McGriff-Burkhalter, Checotah, Oklahoma and Alton & Ruby Burkhalter, Kansas City, Missouri; 4 sisters, Brenda Joyce Burkahlter-Pierce [Troy], Gloria Rae Burkhalter, Gwendolyn Burkhalter-Nero [Sanford] and Rebecca Joyce Burkhalter, Columbia, Missouri; a brother-in-law, Johnny Whitfield, Sr.; 7 brothers, Ronald Lewis Burkhalter, California, James Howard, Tulsa, Oklahoma, John Henry, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Doyle & Lois, Wagoner, Oklahoma, Marcus & Eletha, Checotah, Oklahoma, Cartez, Checotah, Oklahoma and Trenton, Houston, Texas; along with a caravan of other relatives and friends.