of Benton, AR

February 13, 1941 - March 19, 2021

Billy Thomas Burks, age 80, of Haskell, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 19, 2021, in Little Rock, Arkansas surrounded by his family. He was born February 13, 1941, to the late Tom and Cora Lee Crook Burks in Lonsdale.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, Vivian Luke, Doyle Burks, Lonnie Burks, and Leroy Burks, granddaughter, Amber Lee Burks, grandsons, Brandon and Bradley Burks, and daughter-in-law, Judy Burks.

Bill met the love of his life, Lee, while ordering a milkshake at Snearley's Drive-In and married her soon after, in 1959. Together, they raised Kenneth and Keith, and he shared his love for hunting and fishing with them. He was a hard worker and self-taught mechanic who continued to tinker with projects in his shop after he retired from Reynolds in 1992. The family could always depend on Papa to fix whatever item needed to be repaired by his expertise. He spent many spring and summer days fishing with friends and family on Lake Ouachita and could be found relaxing on the front porch of his lake house in Buckville. He was the former president and longtime member of the Dotted Lake Hunting Club. ''Big Daddy'' was a mentor and dear friend to many men throughout his years in the club. Bill was a patient man who had no problem waiting for the right buck to visit his deer stand, a virtue other members in the club envied. In his later years, his grandkids would visit, expecting Papa to have a Western movie on the television and a Louis L'Amour book in his hand. He introduced the great-grands to classic shows like Bonanza and Gunsmoke and they would have gunfights with cap guns during the commercial breaks. In the last year of his life, he spent many hours of quality time working puzzles with his beloved bride.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Lee, two sons, Kenneth and wife Regina, and Keith Burks, all of Haskell, three grandchildren, Jessica Mashburn and husband Jake of Haskell, Bryan Burks, and Bailee Brown and husband Matt Brown, of Little Rock, seven great-grandchildren, Aiden, Austen, Ava, Addy, Arynn, Andrew and Annie Mashburn of Haskell, two sisters-in-law, Sue Burks of Jessieville, and Cookie Burks of Benton, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Bill lived a happy and full life with his family and he loved helping others enjoy their lives. Although he is gone too soon, Bill Burks will never be forgotten and a little bit of him lives on in the ones who knew and loved him.
Serving as pallbearers will be Aiden Mashburn, Doug Sanford, Brian Callahan, Paul Tuggle, Roger Dempsey, and Shane Gage. Honorary pallbearers are Eddie McCormack, Mike Mills, Steve DiCicco, Mickey Simpson, Wayne Mangum, Rick Southworth, and Dickey Norwood.

Visitation for Mr. Burks will be Sunday afternoon, 2:00-4:00 p.m., at Roller Ballard Funeral Home, 306 S. Main St., Benton. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Monday, March 22, at Roller-Ballard Funeral Home, burial following at Ten Mile Cemetery with W.A. Dillard officiating.

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