Zayne Sibley Burkhalter

December 28, 1944 – January 11, 2021

"In the sweetness of friendship, let there be laughter."

Zayne Sibley Burkhalter passed away peacefully January 11, 2021, in her adopted hometown of New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

Zayne was born to the late Julia M. and Harry T. Sibley in New Jersey, the third of six children. She grew up in Mt. Ephraim, New Jersey, graduating from Audubon High School in 1963. Zayne was known as an athlete in high school, receiving varsity letters in Field Hockey, Softball, and Basketball. After graduation she worked as a legal secretary and paralegal for several law firms in Philadelphia, PA. She was an active member and youth leader of the First United Methodist Church of Mt. Ephraim. Zayne married in 1966, giving birth to a son Brett Aubrey Buksar in 1972.

In 1992, Zayne moved to New Smyrna Beach working in Public Relations for the Marriott Hotel in Daytona Beach. She was a member of Coronado Community United Methodist Church, the Southeast Volusia Democratic Club, and served as president and treasurer of the local Friendship Force chapter.

Zayne will be remembered by friends and family for her caring nature, her beautiful smile, her sense of humor and easy laughter as well as her generous gifts of time and energy. Her light shone brightly on the lives of those she touched.

Zayne was preceded in death by her husband, Bob Burkhalter. She is survived by her son Brett Buksar and Candice Beu, granddaughter Arabella Buksar, and siblings Hope and Todd Jenkins, Elaine Sibley, Idanna and Tom Smith, Marty Sibley and David A. Smith, and Robert Sibley and Patricia Morahan.

Close family also includes cousins Roxy Langel, Judy and Ken Loper, Everett Zane, Dorothy and Terry Zimmerman, Eileen MacFarland, Donald and Barbara Zane, Kelli Gadallah, Jerry Langel, Gary Langel, and Michael Langel; nieces and nephews Claudia and John Hollywood, Shem Jenkins, Misha Jenkins, John West, Heather and Thomas Smith-McNiff, Ryan and Nancy Smith, Kristy Lonsford, Robert Borham, Westin Sibley, Zayne Sibley, Nika Sibley. Zayne will also be greatly missed by dear friends, Lee Overfelt, Lorraine and Charles Craig, and Denise Stewart as well as many friends in the New Smyrna Beach community. The family reuqests, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Coronado Community United Methodist Church or to alzheimer's research.

There will be a Celebration of Zayne's Life at the Smyrna Yacht Club on February 24, 2021. Because of COVID restrictions, numbers may be limited. Please email Marty Sibley at msibley@cfl.rr.com for further details.