Gerald Douglas Tilley

Gerald Douglas Tilley, the son of the late John Henry and Vevie Dillard Drye Tilley was born in Sherrill, Arkansas on June 26, 1943 and passed away at the Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory, North Carolina on April 17, 2007, at the age of 63 years, 9 months and 22 days. Shorty had spent his entire life the Stoddard County area until moving to Miner, Missouri a year ago. He was a veteran of the the U.S. Army and had served in Vietnam. He was employed as an over the road truck driver for Jerry Lipps Trucking Company of Cape Girardeau, Missouri and then with Hall's Transport in Charleston. On September 29, 1994, he was married to Brenda Kay Foushee in Bloomfield, Missouri. Surviving are his wife, Brenda Kay Tilley of Miner, Missouri; one son, John Tilley of Bellevue, Nebraska; one daughter, Judy Tilley of West Plains, Missouri; two step-sons, Terry Lemons of Bloomfield, Missouri, Jim Baker of Jonesboro, Arkansas, two step-daughters, Sherri Cookson of Scott City, Missouri, Lorrie Ebert of Cabool, Missouri; three grandchildren; seven brothers, J.W. Tilley and Robert Tilley both of Bloomfield, Missouri, Charles and Larry Tilley both of Essex, Missouri, Kenneth Tilley of Van Buren, Missouri, Dale Tilley of Morehouse, Missouri, William Merrick of Summersville, Florida, three sisters, Floy Jean Robey and Katherine Hopkins both of Bloomfield, Missouri, and Betty Bess of Dexter, Missouri. Many other relatives and friends also survive. He was preceded in death by one brother, Carl Tilley and three sisters, Maxine Robey, Lula Jackson and Lenora Bost. Friends may call on Sunday, April 22, 2007, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Missouri. Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 23, 2007, at 1:00 PM in the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter, Missouri. Interment will be in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri with full military honors conducted by the Stoddard County Veteran's Honor Team. Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter, Missouri in charge of arrangements.