Earl M. Oaks, Jr

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) Dowell 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

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