Obituary of Billy Burke

Funeral services for Lloyd Richard "Billy" Burke of Elsberry, MO, will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 24, 2009 at the Elsberry United Methodist Church in Elsberry, MO. Rev. Paul Garven, church pastor, will officiate with burial in the Elsberry City Cemetery near Elsberry. Serving as pallbearers will be Winston Bailey, Charlie Gladney, Jim Ross, Charlie Pratt, Tom Mueller, Randall Tolbert and Lindell Chamberlain. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Bill Goddard and Gary Sharpe. Mr. Burke, 91, passed away late Tuesday evening, January 20, 2009 at his son's home in Kansas City, KS. Born December 4, 1917 in Kansas City, MO, he was the son of Thomas J. and Mary Emily Pryor Burke. The family moved to Elsberry in 1926, and he graduated from Elsberry High School with the class of 1935. He worked one year for the Wells Lamont Glove Factory and four years at Vann's Market in Elsberry. He was united in marriage on June 16, 1940 in Troy, MO to Frances Elizabeth Yelton. This union was blessed with two sons: Tom and Tim. He also worked at the Atlas Powder Company Weldon Springs Ordinance Works for two years before joining the Army Air Corp in 1943. A veteran of World War II, he served his country in the U.S. Army Air Corp from August 12, 1943 until being honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant on October 24, 1945. He was a Tail Gunner on a B-17 Bomber and flew 20 missions over Germany. Upon returning to Elsberry he owned and operated the Cozy Corner Caf� for eight years. He later went to work for Hercules Powder Works, retiring from there on December 4, 1979 as an Acid Area Supervisor. He received the Hercules annual Method Improvement Program Award in 1967. He served on the Elsberry R-II School Board for nine years, was a past president of the Elsberry High School Alumni Association, and was a treasurer for the Elsberry School Centennial Committee. He was also a member of the Lincoln County Democratic Club, past treasurer of the Lincoln County Democratic Central Committee, and a former recipient of the Lincoln County Grass roots Award. He was a member of the Elsberry City Council for four years. He was a member of the Elsberry American Legion Post #226, the St. Louis Chapter of the 8th Air Force Association, and a life member of the 457th Bomb Group Association. He was a member of the Elsberry Historical Society, the Lincoln County Historical Society, and a former trustee of the Missouri Archeological Society. He was a member of the New Hope Lodge #199 A.F. & A.M.. He was a member of the Short Snorters Club. He was a member of the Elsberry United Methodist Church. For many years he and his dog, Tinker, entertained at various social events and nursing homes. He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Mary Burke; an infant daughter, Sandra Lee, who was stillborn; one brother-in-law, Ralph Humphrey; and his beloved wife of 66 years, Frances Burke, who died November 14, 2006. Survivors include two sons: Tom Burke and his wife, Sara, of Kansas City, KS and Tim Burke and his wife, Tammy, of Minden, NE; three grandchildren: Amber Burke, Jill Liebers and her husband, Scott, and Kimberly Burke, and two great-grandchildren: Noah Liebers and Megan Liebers. He also leaves his sister, Frances Humphrey of Elsberry; several nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends. Visitation will be held from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Friday, January 23, 2009 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Memorials may be made to the Elsberry United Methodist Church or the J.R. Palmer Library in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 South Fifth Street, Elsberry, MO 63343. Online condolences may be made at www.carterricksfuneralhome.com.