Olin Clark Burnett, age 81, of Casey, IL passed away at 3:55 a.m. on Easter Sunday, March 27, 2016 in his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born November 7, 1934, the son of Olin Clark Burnett and Elva Ragon Burnett in Hazel Dell, Illinois. He graduated in the Class of 1952 from Casey High School. On January 1st, 1954 he married his high school sweetheart Shirley Maurine Gardner at the Macedonia Baptist Church, rural Casey, IL.

They moved to Calumet City, IL where they lived and worked until 1955 when they moved back to Casey to farm with his Dad until his death in 1970. Clark and Shirley continued to farm in addition to working several other jobs. Clark worked for Nu-Way Fertilizer selling fertilizer and then managed the chicken house for several years on South Rte. 40 until it was destroyed by high winds in December 1970. He was a school bus driver for the Casey School District for 18 years and then worked as a State of Illinois Highway Maintainer out of the Greenup storage for 18 years. Clark retired in 2002.

He and Shirley enjoyed 56 years of marriage. They enjoyed raising their two children, Dennis and Nancy, and their six grandchildren. They did most everything together from farming to driving school buses to taking their family on yearly camping vacations. In 2003, Shirley suffered a stroke and Clark lovingly took care of her at their home for the seven years after until her death on March 31, 2010.

Clark was saved as a young boy, baptized and was a member of the North Side Church of Christ, Hazel Dell, IL for many years where he also led the song service many times. He and Shirley brought their children up in church teaching them to fear and love the One and Only God and Lord Jesus Christ while attending the Macedonia Baptist Church where Shirley was a member and her father, Herschel Gardner led the song service and her grandma, Dessie Gardner, played the organ. They also attended the Casey First Christian Church for a few years where Dennis and Nancy were saved and baptized. On May 6, 2012 he joined the Casey First Baptist Church where he enjoyed praising the Lord with his beautiful bass/tenor voice singing in the choir and he also enjoyed his Men's Sunday School Class taught by Don Kelsheimer.

In his younger years he enjoyed pitching fast pitch softball for a couple of teams including the Huisinga Grain team, being caught mostly by catcher and good friend, Jerry Richardson. He enjoyed playing pitch & catch with his son, Dennis and coaching his Little League Baseball teams. Clark always enjoyed watching high school and college sports. He was an avid fan of the U of I basketball teams and the St. Louis Cardinal Baseball teams. Clark was very active in the 4-H Club activities of his children, Dennis and Nancy, helping them learn to raise and show hogs, cattle and horses. Clark was a proud member of the NRA and the Cumberland County Farm Bureau.

Clark’s favorite family pasttime was camping. He enjoyed camping vacations each year along with swimming, hiking trails and bike riding. He and Shirley enjoyed camping with their children and grandchildren and Clark continued the tradition with his great grand children teaching them all to enjoy and appreciate God's beautiful creation.

In 2012 he was invited to join the Knucklehead Campers who camped often at the home of Steve and Lila Johnson. He enjoyed his family joining him there to cook, eat, play games and sit around the campfires many a night. He was saddened to be preceded in death this past year by fellow Knuckleheads Brent Shull, Larry Beeman and Mike Smith. He looked forward to meeting them in heaven.

Clark will be remembered and missed by all who knew him as a kind hearted, easy going man who enjoyed his family and friends and life in general. He was never too busy to stop and visit or help someone in need. He was a loving and devoted son, husband, dad and grandpa and his hope and prayer until his last breath was always for all to join him in heaven by accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Survivors include his daughter, Nancy Lynn Simonton and husband Gary of Casey, IL; grandchildren, Brandy Jo Nash and husband Chris and their sons, Cooper Lyle and Reid Michael Nash; John Taylor Simonton and his wife Janine and their children Landon Taylor and Lydia Maurine Simonton; Alan James Simonton and wife Valerie; Dylan Clark Burnett, Wyatt Eugene Burnett and girlfriend Jorie Bollman and their daughter, Teagan Renee Burnett all of the Casey, IL area and Jesse Olin Burnett of Hollman AFB, New Mexico; sister, Marianna Shick of Garland, TX; brother, Keith Burnett and wife Bobbie Jean of Russellville, KY; sister in law, Sharon Hutton and husband Ted of Brookfield, WI; brother in law, Frederick Gardner of Casey, IL; “adopted” granddaughters, Rachel Webb and husband Brad and their daughters, Alexis and Nataleigh Webb and Jennifer Volsch and husband Joe and their daughter, Emmy Jo Volsch; many special nephews and nieces and great nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife; son, Dennis Clark Burnett; sister, Patricia Calvert; brothers in law, Weldon Calvert and Ralph Shick; father and mother in law, Herschel and Aleen Applegate Gardner.

Celebration of Life services will be conducted at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 31, 2016 at the Casey First Baptist Church with Brother Jon McDonald officiating. Burial will follow in the Hazel Dell North Cemetery, Hazel Dell, IL. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday evening at the Casey First Baptist Church, 101 E. Alabama St., Casey, IL.

Memorial donations may be made to the Casey First Baptist Church, PO Box 187, Casey, IL 62420 or the SBLHC Cancer Center, 1000 Health Center Dr., Mattoon, IL 61938.

His family would like to express their appreciation to the following for their loving care of Clark during the last fourteen months: SBLHC Cancer team, Greenup Ambulance team, SBLHC medical teams, SBLHC Palliative Care team, Lincolnland Visiting Nurses and Lincolnland Hospice.

To view the full obituary, send a condolence message, light a candle or post photos, visit www.markwellfuneralhome.com. Markwell Funeral Home of Casey, IL is in charge of the arrangements.

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