William Jerome Burchall Liles, Sr., M.D.

A private family service for family and friends of William Jerome Burchall Liles, Sr., M.D. will be held Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Grace Episcopal Church with the Right Reverend Don Smith and the Right Reverend Gregg Riley officiating. A private family entombment in Grace Church Columbarium will follow the service.

Burchall passed away at his home May 7, 2024, at the age of 103.

He was born on Nevis, British West Indies on 09/07/1920 to the union of Nelson Pickett Liles, M.D. and Maisy (nee Emrey) Liles. His father employed as a replacement for British physicians called to WW 1 with Maisy being the daughter of the islands Anglican Canon. His father brought his family home to Lilesville, North Carolina via Ellis Island when Burchall was four. The 1927 flood brought them to Bastrop via St. Joe with his father as a public health MD.

Bastrop provided an idyllic setting for him. He developed his love for Quail hunting, fine bird dogs, and horses there. He literally could pick up his setter and start hunting from his back door. For most of this life he kept fine pointers and setters, almost in competition with his bird hunting friends, Armand McHenry and Bo Shaw. He also kept a herd of registered Angus cattle and, most especially, Thoroughbred broodmares.

College was two years at Northeast Junior College followed by a year at Centenary. While attending medical school at LSU, he met his future wife, ‘Che Che’ Hinkle. They began a devoted sixty-eight-year marriage on June 10, 1944, in Bremerton, Washington while he began his service in the Navy.

Perhaps the most interesting time of this life was while serving as the medical officer of the Fletcher class Destroyer USS Hart (DD594). Leaving Ulithi, on the way to picket boat duty off Okinawa, he was advised by Tokyo Rose (name, rank, ship, and hometown) of his impending doom. They were missed by several Kamikazes and one rocket powered BAKA bomb. Immediately after victory, he had many adventures rambling around northern China in a jeep the sailors had “confiscated” and reassembled. He managed to locate a keg of birdshot and replaced the buckshot from his riot gun and took off successfully pheasant hunting, especially in Chinese graveyards, even managing to bag a rare Great Bustard.

Following discharge (after finding out why Marine General Smith was known as “Howling Mad”) he returned to New Orleans (after volunteering to help in the 1947 Texas City explosion) to complete his Urology residency. For two years there, he took his entire vacation to serve as the training camp doctor for the Brooklyn Dodgers in Vero Beach. This was the Robinson, Rickey, Reese, Snyder era.

He brought modern Urology to Monroe in 1952, achieving Board Certification when it was a rare and distinct honor. He practiced until 1990, having the privilege to practice with Dr. Tennis and Dr. Cage. He quietly contributed over a broad front: teaching residents at Conway, organizing and teaching certification for EMT personnel, serving as attending Urologist (gratis) for LA Handicapped Children and Spina Bifida programs, and leadership of staff at St. Francis and the medical society.

Support of Northeast-now ULM-was also quiet. He suggested and instituted legislative support to begin the excellent Nursing program there. He began and financed a significant cancer research project there providing nationally recognized speakers and consultants.

Burchall was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order, Ouachita Medical Society, and served on the vestry of Grace Episcopal Church, Chief of Staff at St. Francis. He joined illustrious friends as a proud member of the “Fluker Lane Birdwatching Society’ based out of Oak Ridge.

He lived an extraordinary life as an ex-pat, depression baby, naval officer, physician, and patriarch. He was known for his stories- ranging from “Fatty Coon” to his exploits in China and was always surrounded by family and friends to hear his tales. He took his patriarch role for the very large Liles family seriously. In later years he thrived as grandfather and great grandfather. He loved roasting a pig at Thanksgiving and lighting the traditional Plum Pudding at Christmas.

Burchall was preceded in death by his beloved, Che Che, his parents, Dr. Nelson Pickett Liles and Maisy Emrey Liles; his sister, Monica Broyles and her husband, Dr. Joe Broyles; his brother, Buddy Liles and his wife, Ernie; brother-in-law, Red Harp; daughter-in-law, Cathy Liles; and special nephew, Richard Liles.

He is survived by his sons, Dr. William J. (Jerry) Liles, Jr; Dr. Arthur Liles and his wife, Melanie; and Dr. Douglas Liles; four grandchildren, Dr. William Bart Liles and his wife, Dr. Leigh Liles, Mary Emrey Ellis and her husband, James, Thomas Liles, and Maisy Liles; great grandchildren Mary Blake, William, and Frances Liles; West and Emrey Ellis; and Catherine Reece, and Della Liles. He is also survived by his dear youngest sibling, Emrey Harp and many close nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank all the sitters from Serenity Care, Heart of Hospice and Mr. Don Sumler, as well as a special thanks to Mr. Willie Cleveland.

In lieu of flowers, we request memorials be made to Grace Episcopal Church or a charity of your choice.

Burchall had 103 years of a life well lived.