Alumni Obituary – Wava Maxine Burt

Sand Springs, Oklahoma – Wava Maxine (Clark) Burt (CC ’69), age 77, of Sand Springs, passed from this life Friday, May 7, 2021, at home.

A celebration of life service was held Thursday, May 13, 2:00 p.m. at Sand Springs United Methodist Church with Reverend Stephen Cagle officiating. Graveside took place on Friday, May 14, 2:00 p.m. at Liberal Cemetery in Liberal, Kansas. Arrangements were entrusted to the care of Mobley-Groesbeck Funeral Service.

Wava was born on October 10, 1943, in Longford, Kansas to Torrence George and Adeline Sophia (Brown) Clark. She graduated from Longford Rural High School in 1960 and attended Central College in McPherson, Kansas, and Brown Mackie College in Salina, Kansas. She married and was later divorced from Duane Burt; they had two children together.

After moving from McPherson, Kansas, to Liberal, Kansas, with their family in 1971, Wava became an active member of the First Christian Church.  She sang in the church choir and often provided special music, singing solos and in duets, and even directing the chancel and handbell choirs.  She served on many church committees and was a member of Sunday School classes and Bible study groups.

Serving as a church elder for many years, Wava wrote original prayers for communion, which she eventually collected and published in a book entitled “Sustained to Serve”, which can still be purchased today at christianbook.com/sustained-serve-communion-and-offering-prayers/wava-burt/9780788023033/pd/23037?event=ERRCER1.

Wava was active in the Disciples of Christ Area and Regional organization, attending General Assemblies and serving on Area committees.  She completed ministerial training through the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and received her Certificate of Ministerial License in 2004.

Her acts of service extended in the community as a literacy volunteer, a board member of the Stepping Stone Shelter, and a volunteer advocate for the Liberal Area Rape Crisis and Domestic Violence Shelter (LARC/DVS).

After a 25-year career as a secretary with General Adjustment Bureau, Wava accepted a position as executive director of the LARC/DVS, where she served until her retirement in 2007.

After moving to Sand Springs, Oklahoma, in 2010, Wava enjoyed fellowship with the Sand Springs United Methodist Church, singing in the choir, and participating with Sunday School classes and the United Methodist Women.

She is survived by her daughter; Karla Burt Shaffer of Sand Springs, a son Kyle Burt and wife Patricia of Adams, Oklahoma, a sister; Joan Franklin and husband Bob of Northfield, Minnesota; brother-in-law Merle Binder of McPherson, Kansas; one grandson Deakon Shaffer of Sand Springs.

Wava was preceded in death by her parents and a sister Noleen Binder.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Liberal, Kansas, or Sand Springs United Methodist Church, Sand Springs, Oklahoma.

ABOUT CENTRAL CHRISTIAN COLLEGE OF KANSAS

Central Christian College of Kansas is a regionally accredited institution offering undergraduate and graduate-level programs. Central strives to offer Christ-centered education for the whole person – heart, mind, soul, and strength. Its history dates back to 1884, and it is located in the friendly town of McPherson, Kansas. Central is a strategically small college that offers over forty areas of residential study and a thriving online program for non-traditional students. To learn more about Central go to centralchristian.edu/about. Visit the Foundation of Central Christian College to see what projects and events are coming up.