Billy Burke Broker/owner

Bill decided in late 2013 to join the United Country Family. Bill is focused on putting together a state of the art auction and real estate company. With national and local advertising, United Country Burke Auction and Realty is bringing new life to Crawford, Jasper and Richland, Lawrence counties along with Central and Southern Illinois.

Bill grew up in Olney, Il., until he was in the 5^th grade and at that time his mother took a job at Hershey Chocolate and moved the family to Oblong, Il. Basically growing up and taking county wide classes in high school, Bill built relationships all over Crawford County. Bill is a 2000 graduate of Oblong High School and a 2005 graduate of the Missouri Auction School. He has been employed in a variety of different jobs in his career. Bill has had 2 jobs since 2005, working days and working auctions in the evenings and weekends. In 2009 Bill went to work full-time for Bob Fiscus Auction and Appraisals. In 2012 Bill opened Furniture and More in Oblong, Il. In 2013 Bill also bought an office in Oblong and opened United Country Burke Auction and Realty. In July, of 2014 Bill sold Furniture and More to strictly focus on the Auction and Real Estate business.

Bill was recently married in 2014 to his wife Sarah. Bill has 2 daughters, Alysen and Aireka. They are involved in sports and many school activities. Bills hobbies include, attending auctions, hunting, fishing, being outdoors in general, side-by-side rides with the family and watching his daughters play softball.

Glenda Dunlap Broker

 Hi, My name is Glenda Dunlap. I have been a Real Estate Broker for 3 years. I recently joined United Country Burke Auction & Realty and am excited about working with a new team.  I love working with people in selling or finding the perfect home for them to buy. I grew up in Robinson, and 25 years ago moved to Palestine with my husband Michael, and 3 daughters Amy, Stacey and Ashley. After my children were raised, I went and got my Real Estate license. Before that, I decorated cakes at Walmart for 13 years. I enjoy going to church, gardening and spending time with family and friends. I'm always looking for new people to help out in the Real Estate Business, and make some new friends along the way. 

Ron DuPlessis Managing Broker

Phyllis Mullins Broker

Phyllis Mullins is a native of Crawford county, attending school in Robinson and graduating from Robinson High School. Phyllis attended Wabash Valley College earning an associates degree. After school, Phyllis opened a hair salon and also taught beauty school for a time in Robinson. She has been in the cosmetology profession for 40 years and is still full time in this profession.

Phyllis obtained her real estate license in 2009 to pursue another one of her interests. Phyllis’ hobbies include family time and making memories with her grandchildren.  Phyllis lives in Robinson with her husband of 37 years, Stanley Mullins. She has 3 sons and 10 grandchildren. She looks forward to serving clients in their real estate needs.

Sarah Shaffer Office Manager

I was born and raised in Crawford County, graduating from Hutsonville High School in 1997. I have four boys that keep my life busy and complete. After living away for 6 years, I recently moved back to Robinson, in order to be closer to family. Having worked customer service, in a variety of public settings through the years, I am not a stranger to the discipline, hard work, and patience necessary to achieve satisfaction of the customer. I’m looking forward to learning everything I can to better serve your needs.

Beth Smothers Broker

     Hi everybody!  A little about me, I was raised in Lawrenceville until my family moved to Robinson during my junior high years.  Upon graduating from Robinson High School, I attended college in St. Louis, MO.  Later I moved to Indianapolis to enjoy the city life and worked as a leasing agent and also held an Indiana Real Estate License.  Deciding I missed small town life, I moved back to Crawford County in 1993 but always told myself I would get back into real estate again.  After marrying my husband, JD, in 1995 we settled down in Oblong to raise our children - our daughter, Connor, is now 21 and a senior at EIU and our son Jake is 14 and a freshman at OHS.  In my spare time, you can usually find me at our children’s sporting events, fishing with my guys, “junking”, or refinishing furniture.  I am employed by JaCi Oil as a bookkeeper and recently completed my real estate schooling and obtained my Illinois Real Estate License.  I am excited to be able to help you sell your house or find your perfect house!!  Please give me a call for all of your real estate needs!     

Keith Wirey Broker

I was raised in Robinson, IL. And went through elementary school there. I went to high school in Martinsville, IL. graduating in 1973. After finishing school I moved to Oblong, got married and started a family. Rita and I had 4 children whom all attended Oblong Schools. We currently have 9 grandchildren who all live within an hour from us so we spend quite a bit of time enjoying them. From 1974-1982 I worked in the construction business. I did remodel work, roofing and new construction. I went to work at Marathon Refinery and worked there for 28 years. I started in Operations, working night shift which enabled me to still do construction work. I later transferred to the Maintenance Dept., where I eventually became a Maintenance Foreman. After retiring from Marathon, I went back to construction work full-time which I am still doing. I have always enjoyed the Real Estate business and working with people so I decided to get my Realtor license.

Austin Yager Broker

Hey! My name is Austin Yager. I am a younger real estate agent (21) in Crawford County.

   I grew up in Oblong, IL and have resided here all my life. Growing up in a small community has taught me many valuable skills, like treating everyone with respect goes a long way since everyone knows everyone. In 2014 I started flying drones, which led into the start up of Dark Bend Aerial Services. Starting my own company has taught me the professionalism and accounting that occurs in all business interactions.  After graduating, in 2016, I started working at Bolin Enterprises in Casey, IL. There I traveled the country working on many types of fuel system from emergency generators to underground storage tanks (USTs) and more, for two and a half years. Traveling the country allowed me to see what the "real big world" is like, since I had conversations with many people from different backgrounds every day.

   Since 2019, I’ve been helping my real estate clients buy, sell, and rent properties, managing every aspect of the real estate process. Being a younger agent I am up to date on all new trends, like drone video, and the best ways to advertise, like Facebook. No matter whether you’re looking to sell your current home, or a first time home buyer looking for somewhere to rest your head, I can help you secure the best opportunities in the real estate market and will be there for YOU every step of the way.    

   On weekends you will find me having game night with family, at the race track, in the gym, out eating with friends, and at church on Sunday morning.

   Favorite Book: Think & Grow Rich ~Napoleon Hill

Joshua Kuhl Auctioneer

Joshua was born in Clay County, IL. He spent his educational years in Jasper County IL, graduating from Newton High School, in 2003. From there, he continued his education at Eastern Illinois University where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business. Joshua has 2 children, Layla and Knox, both of whom are following in their father’s footsteps by attending Jasper County Schools. Since 2007, he has worked in the agricultural sector, specializing in Seed and Agronomy. He also co-owns and operates his family farm, with his cousin Derek. He has always had a passion for the auction business from the time he spent attending local auctions, with his grandparents, as a young child. As he grew older, his interest in auctioneering peaked, and he decided to seize the opportunity to assist local community members with all of their auction and sales needs. Joshua has been with United Country Burke Auction & Realty since January of 2019, and looks forward to serving Central and Southern Illinois, for years to come. He specializes in equipment, real estate, and housing. Contact Joshua today, for all of your auction needs. He says,”Let me earn your business, and sell for you!”

Reuben Stence Broker

After graduation from Newton Community High School in 2007, Reuben pursued a degree in Elementary Education from Eastern Illinois University. Reuben took his first teaching job in 2010 in a small school by Mt. Vernon and transferred back to Oblong to teach in 2011. After moving several times for school and work, Reuben decided to obtain his real estate license after several negative transactions with realtors. The driving force was to treat the customer with the utmost respect and always be fair and honest in any deal. These values still hold true in the transactions he completes today.

Reuben married Erica (Thompson) Stence in 2010 and started the process of moving back to Marshall and Clark County to teach and be closer to family.  In 2013, the property of their dreams came available and they bought it in hopes of reestablishing the family farm. The pastures of Oval Ridge Farm are now filled with registered Angus cattle with genetics being marketed all across the country.

In the Stence’s spare time, they love spending time outdoors, hunting, fishing, gardening and spending time with family. Reuben cherishes the time he gets to spend with his beautiful wife and two children Lucas and Natalie.

Hard work, honesty, dedication, and determination have shaped Reuben’s personal and professional life and he looks forward to putting those traits to work for you in buying or selling your home.

Tim Watson Broker

Tim was born and raised Southern Illinois near Vienna, IL.  He graduated from Vienna High School where he made the All-State Team in Baseball and was All-State Honorable Mention in Basketball.  After High School he played baseball at Southeastern Illinois Community College for one year then went on to play three more years of baseball at Union University in Jackson, TN.  Tim received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management/Marketing at Union and has now completed a Masters of Management from Oakland City University.   
Tim loves all outdoor sports and loves to hunt and fish.  He loves the challenge of finding the spot for the big buck or the big bass.   He gets this same “rush” while searching for the perfect home for a family or trying to find a buyer that fits a listing.  “The hunt is the exciting part, then the work starts.”  
Tim worked 18 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections in recreation, counseling and the last 15 years in Correction Education.   Tim is now the Pastor at Outer West Market Church of Christ in Palestine, Illinois.  Just like the Real Estate Business, Tim is always looking for new and exciting ways to grow his church.  
Tim and his wife Kerry have been married for 20 years and have a beautiful daughter Rylee age 18.  Tim loves his God, his family, and his country.