He was born on December 13th, 1946, in Gladden, Missouri to the late Wm. Franklin and Lola Mildred Prater.
Marion was blessed to share sixty-one wonderful years of marriage to Patsy Sue (Butcher), whom he married on July 31st, 1964. She survives of the home, cherishing a lifetime of memories.
He graduated 8th grade in Salem, Missouri. At the age of 16 he moved to Steedman, Missouri to work as a muleskinner for Akers Sawmill. He went on to learn carpentry and was a self-taught excavator, eventually owning his own business, Burke's Excavating Company.
He loved gardening, quilting with Patsy, making sequence boards for family and friends, and teaching himself to play the guitar.
He attended Gladden Baptist Church in Gladden and was baptized at a young age.
Marion's memory will live on through his family, who describe him as a loving, kind, generous giving, most helpful rooster crowing alarm clock in Callaway County who was a perfectionist at carpentry and quilt work.
Those who remain to cherish his memory are his two sons, Roy Martin (Coreena) Burke and Anthony Waylon (Lisa) Burke; grandchildren, Amber Huff, Megan (Jordan) Beauchem, Chelsea (Ryan) Harrison, Brittany (Josh) Norton, Ethan (Antoinette) Burke, and Dylan (Chelsea) Burke; great grandchildren, Honey, Brace, Landon, Hailey, Caden, Hudson, Jaxson, Harper, Bram, Sawyer, and Malcom.
He was preceded in death by twenty-three siblings.
The family would like to thank the physicians and nurses at Boone Hospital especially, Latasha, "our special angel", Hams Prairie Church family, Pastor Brian for the use of the reception hall, and all the thoughts, prayers, and cards during Marion's illness.
Another special thanks to Pastor Bruce Williamson for his continuous prayers, officiating the Celebration of Life, and being in our family's life for so many generations.
A visitation will be held at Debo Funeral Home, 833 Court Street, Fulton, MO 65251, on March 13, 2026, from 11 to 12 PM, followed by a Celebration of Life at 12:00 PM.
Committal services will take place at Mt Tabor Cemetery, Ronald Lane, New Bloomfield, MO 65063, following the service.
