Joe "Bucky" Burchett

Joe Arthur “Bucky” Burchett, age 84, of Prestonsburg, husband of Barbara Clark Burchett, his wife of 64 years, passed away Sunday, March 22, 2020, in Prestonsburg.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Pauline Archer Burchett and Joe Wheeler Burchett and a brother Albert Archer Burchett.  He is survived by his three children, Kathryn Ann Brown, Joe Arthur Burchett II (Nikki), and Jennifer Clark Biliter (Justin), eight grandchildren: Barbie Brown, Andrew Burchett, Benjamin Burchett, Leah Kate Burchett, Tyler Burchett, Sarah Biliter, Silas Biliter, and Brayden Combs. He is also survived by one brother, Paul Preston Burchett.

Joe was a graduate of Prestonsburg High School and the University of Kentucky, where he received a B.S. Degree in Civil Engineering in 1960.  In 1971, he started a Bridge Construction Company called Bush and Burchett Inc., where he served as President and general manager until his retirement. During that time the company built over 200 bridges in Kentucky, West Virginia, and Virginia.

Joe was active in many local, state, and national organizations. He served on the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Association of Highway Contractors for many years and served as their chairman in 1989. He was on the Board of Directors of the First Guaranty Bank and of the United Steel Workers of America.  He was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and a member of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.  He served on the Advisory Board for the Stone Crest Golf Course in Prestonsburg and was a member of the First United Methodist Church.

In 2002, Joe received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Civil Engineering Alumni of the University of Kentucky for exhibiting outstanding ability, integrity, and accomplishment in the construction industry in Kentucky. In 2014, he was inducted into the Kentucky Transportation Hall of Fame.

He will forever be remembered by those whose lives were touched by his presence.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 3, 2021, at 2:00 pm at Hall Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 12:00 pm until time of service, Saturday. 

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