Earl M. Oaks, Jr, age 76, of Morton, Illinois; passed away at OSF
Hospice Home in Peoria, Illinois on May 17, 2019 at 11:27 am. Earl was
born on November 22, 1942 in Palacios, Texas and is the son of Earl
Milton Sr and Muriel Louise Magee Oaks. Earl was raised and educated in
Biggsville and it’s local schools and attained his General Education
Degree while serving in the Navy. Earl served his country in the Navy
where he was SFC 3 and was a pipe fitter during the Viet Nam era. He
married Susan J. Lester on February 12, 1966 in Palmyra, Missouri. and
she is surviving. Earl first worked in Burlington for Yetter Oil Company
delivering LP. He later worked in Ft.Madison for Pepsi, and then did
rural trucking in Ft. Madison. In 1973 Earl worked for Schneider
Transport in Green Bay, Wisconsin and was a driver trainer and safety
engineer. Earl loved to drive and had visited all but two of the fifty
states. He also was a Million Mile driver without an accident. In
Biggsville, Earl drove the bus for the Biggsville School System. More
recently he also worked at Libby’s pumpkins in Morton and drove for
Methodist Hospital laboratory services. He loved the outdoors and
hiking. He is survived by his wife, Susan J. Oaks of Morton, IL; one
daughter, Shaila (Dan) Ayer of LaHarpe, IL; one son, Jason Oaks of
Monmouth, IL; four granddaughters, Paige Oaks of East Peoria, IL; Hallie
Draughan of Peoria, IL ;Danielle Oaks of Peoria, IL; and Sonja Oaks of
Galesburg, IL. and grandson, Brandon Wright of Macomb, IL. Also
surviving is one great granddaughter, Grace Wright and one great
grandson, Brendon Wright. Earl’s mother also survives, Muriel Oaks of
Biggsville. Two sisters are also surviving, Kay Oaks of Monmouth, IL and
April (Bill) Oaks of Monmouth, IL He is preceded in his death by his
father and one granddaughter Amber, his brother, Lester Oaks, and one
nephew.
A funeral service and military honors will be on Friday May 24, 2019 at
2:00 pm at Turnbull Funeral Home in Monmouth, Illinois. Cremation will
then be accorded. His family plans visitation on Thursday evening at
Turnbull Funeral Home and will receive their friends from 5:00 to 7:00
pm at May 23rd. Memorial funds are being established for either the
Richard Owen Hospice Center or Billy Graham Ministries. Turnbull Funeral
Home in Monmouth is in charge of the local arrangements. To leave a
remembrance or for more information please visit
www.turnbullfuneralhomes.com
