Burl Marion Day Obituary (1926 - 2013)

Burl "Marion" Day, 86 of Decatur, IL a World War II veteran and Caterpillar retiree died at 8:05 a.m., Monday February 18, 2013. A service to celebrate Marion's life will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, February 23, 2013, at Dawson & Wikoff North Funeral Home. The family will receive friends for a time of visitation beginning at 11:00 a.m. until service time. Marion will be laid to rest in the Maroa Cemetery with full military honors provided by the Macon County Honor Guard. Memorials may be made to DMH Hospice or the Keystone Meadows Flagpole Project. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.dawson-wikoff.com. Marion was born August 7, 1926, in DeWitt County, the son of Burl C. Day and Gladys H. (Ballance) Day. He married Juanita A. Harris on November 10, 1946 in Maroa. She preceded him in death on March 1, 1976. Marion served his country in the U.S. Army in the South Pacific during W.W. II. He grew up on a farm and briefly farmed when he returned from the war. He worked for thirty seven years at Caterpillar and retired in 1991. He then shuttled cars for Isringhausen until 2005. Marion was a member of Moundford Free Methodist Church. Surviving is his children: Janice Day and her husband Howard Johnson of Oklahoma City, OK, Joyce Carolus and her husband Doug of Forsyth, Joann Woolums and her husband Joe of Clinton, and Larry Day and his wife Cynthia of Decatur; grandchildren: Christine Cox and her husband Rick of Long Creek, Jeanette Ferguson and her husband David of Clinton, Larry Andrew Day and his wife Amy of Blue Mound, Laura Cross and her husband John of West Point, NY, Joseph Woolums and his wife Joy of Lafayette, GA, and Thomas Bromley of Oklahoma City, OK; step-granddaughter: Keri Hinson and her husband Jason of Belleville; great grandchildren: Danielle, Josh, Rilee, Jordan, Jadon, Tessa, Sophia, Carter, Zach, Nikki, Whitney, Chad, Colten, Audry, and Riley; siblings: Esther Crotchett and her husband Ken of Springfield, Paul Day and his wife Wanda of Decatur, Maurice Day and his wife Nancy of Maroa, Carole Schove and her husband Lonnie of Normal, and Margaret Grissom of Maroa. Marion was preceded in death by his parents, wife: Juanita, sister: Shirley Day, and three great grandchildren: Tabitha, Ricky, and Rocky, brother-in-law: Everett Grissom. The family wishes to thank those who helped care for Marion in his final years. They include Dr. Roberto Pabalate, Dr. Mario Velasco, and DMH Hospice Staff. They would also like to thank Jami Bray and the staff at Keystone Meadows for the excellent care and their ability to make Keystone Marion's home for the past 3 years.