Lillie Opal (Willbanks) Burks was born August 4, 1922, to Lester Joseph and Mary Ellen (Souders) Willbanks in Mountain View, Missouri.  She departed this life to enter her eternal Heavenly home on June 25, 2021, at the age of 98 years, 10 months, and 21 days.

Lillie was united in marriage to Othel Lee Burks, and to this union, six children were born, four sons and two daughters; Gary L., Mary L., Daniel A., Robert L., David W., and Martha S.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lester and Mary; brothers, Alvin and Leonard "Sonny"; infant sister, Dorothy Luella; sisters-in-law, Alice Roark Willbanks and Mary Stover Willbanks; sons-in-law, Dennis McAdams and Leroy Prange; grandsons, Roger Leroy Shane Prange and Donald Scott Burks; and a special nephew Donald "Burrhead" Burks.

Lillie accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at the Pentecostal Church and was baptized in the Jacks Fork River.  She loved listening to Billy Graham and traditional religious music.  Lillie was a faithful supporter of the Billy Graham ministries and its many programs through her monthly contributions.

As a child, Lillie lived for a time in Oklahoma, where her infant sister, Dorothy, was born and later passed into God's arms.  Lillie attended Southaven Schools and spent a lot of time with her large family of DeBoard and Willbanks cousins. As a result of the dust bowl and depression-era in Oklahoma, the family decided to return home to Missouri. Her father Lester, along with several other men, decided to travel home in horse-drawn covered wagons.  Although most of the wives and children chose to return in automobiles, Mary Ellen along with Lillie and Alvin chose to return with Lester in the covered wagon.  The trip from Braman, Oklahoma to Springfield, Missouri, took six weeks. This was only one of the great adventures Lillie had during her lifetime.  Once they arrived in Springfield, Mary Ellen took Lillie and Alvin the rest of the way in a Model T, so that they could be on time for school to start in Summersville, Missouri. Lillie graduated from Summersville High School with the class of 1941.

She returned many times to Oklahoma during the last several years to attend the DeBoard/ Willbanks family reunions, and to decorate the grave of her beloved sister, Dorothy, as well as many other family members.  Many of the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren had the pleasure of taking this trip down memory lane with their Grandma Lillie while learning the importance of God, love, and family.

Lillie was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, cousin, and friend who will be missed by all who were fortunate enough to be touched by her life and her love. The family is comforted knowing she is now in Heaven with her many family members and friends who passed before her.

Survivors include her brother, Robert  Willbanks and wife, Sharon of Lafayette, IN; sister-in-law, Sonia Willbanks of Kansas City, MO; children, Gary L. Burks of Mountain View, MO, Mary L. Prange of Mountain View, MO, Daniel A. Burks and wife, Mary of Eldon, MO, Robert L. Burks and wife, Judy of Mountain Grove, MO, David W. Burks and wife, Ann of Elsberry, MO, and Martha S. McAdams of Mountain View, MO; 13 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren; a very special cousin, Ilene DeBoard Hamburg, and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Visitation will be held from 6-8:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 29, 2021, at Yarber Mortuary, Mountain View, Missouri.  Private graveside services will be held at a later time.   Memorial contributions may be made to Samaritan's Purse/Donor Ministries PO Box 3000 Boone, NC 28607. Condolences may be expressed at www.yarbermortuary.com .