Penny Puryear Burt, born in Amarillo, December 8, 1946, passed away in her sleep in Austin, on February 3, 2023. She graduated from Kelton School in the Texas Panhandle, and from St. Anthony’s School of Nursing in Amarillo, as well as advanced work at the University of Texas in Austin. Penny worked as a Registered Nurse at St. David’s Hospital among others. She also served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. In 1973, she married Howard Burt, M.D., and they remained constant companions until Howard passed away in 2020.
Penny graduated from St. Mary’s Law School in May of 1979 and was licensed by the Texas State Bar later in that same year. During her years as an attorney, she served as Assistant Attorney General for the State of Texas in the Medicare Fraud Control Unit; Assistant DA for Gray County (Pampa); Of Counsel for the Texas State Board of Nurse Examiners, and in private practice. Penny helped those in need, both in her work as a nurse and during her career as an attorney.
In addition to her husband Howard, Penny was predeceased by her parents, Thomas and Peggy Puryear, and her stepson, Donald Howard Burt. She is survived by her brother, Tom (Karen) Puryear, her niece, Erica Puryear Clark, and her nephew, Dustin Puryear of Wheeler, and her stepchildren, Laura, Charles, and Steve (Jennie) Burt of San Antonio and Austin. She is also survived by six grandchildren, Christie, Chase, Celeste, Becca, Brian and Christopher, who lovingly called her GrandPenny.
On a personal note, she loved books, reading, and educating children. She wanted every child to have the opportunity for their minds to be expanded through books, museums, and fun life experiences. She had a brilliant mind and a desire to leave the earth better than when she arrived and she contributed to that cause. She was loved by many.
Penny and Howard were active supporters of numerous organizations, including KLRU, KUT-FM, the Georgetown Community Service Center (The Caring Place), the University of Texas SAGE program (Seminars for Adult Growth and Enrichment), and Senior University Georgetown.
In accordance with their last wishes, Penny and Howard donated property in Maine to the Upper Saco Valley Land Trust, a Nature Conservancy affiliate. Penny and Howard enjoyed their last 20 summers in Maine and donated the land to preserve its natural beauty and watershed resources.
A celebration of Penny’s life will be held at a later date in Wheeler. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice.