Joe Lilly

Joe Lilly, age 95, of Iola, Kansas, passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday, July 24, 2025.

Alvin Orin "Joe" was born on March 30, 1930, at home on an oil lease near Moran, Kansas, to Orin and Gladys (Nailon) Lilly. He attended the Fairlawn rural country school before graduating from Moran High School with the Class of 1948. Following school, he continued to help his father on the oil lease until 1951. Joe then worked for the Kansas State Highway Department from 1951 to 1952. In 1953, he returned to the oil lease, beginning a career in hauling crude oil that would span the majority of his working years. He worked for his father on the Lilly and Becker oil lease, then for Al Becker with Crude Oil Marketing until 1960. He then hauled oil for Art Brigham until 1966, followed by time with Boyer Oil Company and then General Energy until 1978. From 1978 to 1979, he worked night shifts at Gates Rubber Company. Joe eventually returned to hauling crude oil, initially with Square Deal. Over the next 21 years, his job remained consistent though the company name changed as it was sold to Fairway, then Enron, and finally Crude Marketing, from which he retired in 2000. He often said the best truck he ever drove was an International.

On July 20, 1952, Joe was united in marriage to LaVella Pratt in Moran. They were blessed with two children, Jolene and Gerald. Joe often remarked to his daughter Jolene that his greatest joy was work. When he wasn't hauling oil, he could be found tinkering with cars, small engines, and anything mechanical on the farm-except fencing. When his children were young, he loved taking them boating at Elsmore Lake, where his parents had a cabin. Joe also enjoyed attending farm shows throughout the Midwest with his brother-in-law, Harvey Pratt. Later in life, Joe embraced technology, keeping up with current events and oil production on his tablet via Facebook. His love for the oil fields never left him, and he often spent time looking at modern-day oil production online. He cherished seeing antique cars and trucks online, as he held a special place in his heart for his own Model T. Joe proudly served in the 395th Field Artillery Division of the Kansas National Guard from 1950 to 1956.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Orin and Gladys Lilly; his wife of 47 years, LaVella, on February 19, 2000; two brothers, JC Cheaney and Bob Cheaney; and his son-in-law, Griff Boeken.

Joe is survived by his children, Jolene Boeken, and Gerald Lilly and wife Bonnie; four grandchildren, Lacy Coltrane, Kyle Boeken, Michael Lilly, and Steven Lilly; and ten great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service in Iola. Burial will follow in the Moran Cemetery, Moran, Kansas. Memorial contributions may be made to Kappa Alpha Sorority, for the purpose of providing fuel cards for those undergoing cancer treatments, or to ACARF. Contributions may be left in care of the funeral home.