James Burkett

VERO BEACH, Fla. — James Austin (Jim) Burkett, 85, passed away at his home in Vero Beach, Fla., on April 20, 2018, surrounded by a loving group including his wife and several dear friends. He was born to J. B. and Irene Burkett of Chattanooga, Tenn., on his dad's birthday, May 14th. After graduating from Red Bank High School, he entered the military and had a long career serving his country as a Navy Seal. Retiring from the Navy, he opened a diving equipment business and taught diving and safety procedures. Jim was also an expert at polygraph work and was utilized by agencies around the world for training and conducting polygraph seminars. He also worked for numerous police agencies in a variety of capacities. Jim was a fun person. He loved country and western music, golf, treasure hunting, metal detecting on the beaches, and scuba diving. He also appeared in movies as an underwater sea diver. One was “Gold Finger” a Bond movie and several others. He is survived by his loving wife, Beverly Phiel Burkett; two sons, James Jr. (Roseann) Burkett, of Sioux Falls, S.D. and Mark Burkett, of Fort Lauderdale , Fla.; two sisters, Bobbie J. Lovelace and Norma J. Hart, both of Ooltewah, Tenn.,;four grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death, both parents; a daughter, Abbie Ann Harrington, of Florida; and a great-granddaughter, Caroline Vetter, of Sioux Falls, S.D.; sister, Billie Sue Alley, of Huntsville, Ala., and brother, Thomas Burkett, of Chattanooga, Tenn. A memorial is being planned by a funeral home in Vero Beach, FL. A date to follow.