Loretta G. Burke was born a coal miner’s daughter on a cold, snowy morning on February 16, 1933, in a little house in Katie Hollow (near Denton) Kentucky to Carl and Mable (Crum) Davis.  She was called to her Heavenly home on November 20, 2024.  When she was a year old her parents moved to Greencastle, West Virginia.  She lived in West Virginia until her graduation from high school when she went to Washington DC to work for the FBI.  That began her 30-year career with the Federal Government.

While in DC she and two friends formed a singing duo and visited Veteran’s Hospitals on weekends to entertain the veterans.  When returning from Walter Reed Hospital on August 19, 1951, they struck up a conversation with two G.I.’s and later that evening the guys showed up at their boarding house.  The next day when she got home from work, she was told that a guy by the name of Bill Burke had been calling her.  When he called again, they made a date to go see the Marine Band perform at Lincoln’s Monument and that began a love story that lasted until Bill’s sudden death on December 30, 2000.  After their wedding on March 21, 1952, and the birth of their son Bill II, they moved to Potomac.

After growing up in the hills of Kentucky and West Virginia, Loretta loved the flat land of Illinois, especially Potomac.  She quickly became involved in Junior Women’s Club, Eastern Star where she served as Worthy Matron in 1972-73 and in the United Methodist Church where she served on numerous committees, as a Sunday School Teacher, President of the Pastor/Parish Committee for 10 years, President of the United Methodist Women for more than 20 years.

Always active in community projects, she served as Secretary for the Library Board for 15 years, Secretary for the Veteran’s Memorial Committee and was a Lions Club member for 25 years.  She loved to bake so she made several cakes each month for the Lions Club cake walks and for the American Legion fish frys.  She wrote a weekly column “What’s Happening in Potomac” for the Rantoul Press for 10 years.

During her career with the US Government, she was a Clerk-Typist for the FBI and a Secretary in several offices at Chanute Air Force Base.  She received many awards and retired as Secretary to the Commanding General in July 1993.  After her retirement of 26 years at Chanute AFB, she always had time for her friends and family.  Although she sold her home in Potomac and moved to Danville in 2009, she stayed active in her church and the community.  When she later moved to an assisted living community, she stayed active there by helping any of the residents who needed help. 

Loretta was a loving daughter, a proud mother of her children and glowed with pride when talking about their accomplishments and those of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She was a good friend, always willing to lend a helping hand.  Loretta loved antiques and she loved shopping especially for clothes, shoes, purses and jewelry.  She never saw a pair of shoes she didn’t like and loved decorating her home for the holidays.

Loretta is survived by her children: William S. Burke II and Elizabeth Anne Jolley (Doug), grandchildren: Jessica Atchie (Andy), William S. Burke III (Jessica), Tyler Jolley (Heather), Christian Jolley (Claire), Kaitlin Willis (Caleb), Allison Richardson (Killian), Great-Grandchildren: Jaren Burke West (Megan), Jadyn West, Tobi West, Michaela Bryant (Tim), Mackenzie Atchie, Jacob Atchie, Alexa Burke, Noah Burke,  Jameson Willis, Emma Jolley, Grace Willis, Mason Jolley, Daxton Jolley, Callie Richardson, Theodore Jolley, Carson Richardson and Hudson Bryant: Brother Don Davis: several nieces, nephews and cousin: Best Friend Sonna Carley and her very patient hairdresser Linda Downing.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bill, brothers Bob and Larry Davis, sisters-in-law Jackie Davis, Edna Davis and Anne Duncan, brother-in-law James Duncan, daughter-in-law Chris Burke, great-grandsons Miles and William Jolley, special cousin Freda Stewart and many special friends.

Visitation will be at Middlefork United Methodist Church at 10:00 a.m. Monday, November 25 immediately followed by funeral services at 11:00 a.m. officiated by Pastor George Desmond.  Burial will be at Potomac Cemetery following the funeral services.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Middlefork United Methodist Church, 109 S. Vermilion St., Potomac, IL 61865.

The Blurton Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.  Condolences may be shared with the family on her everlasting memorial page at:  www.BlurtonFuneralHomes.com.