On July 9, 2013, we were so sad to lose our sweet T-pa. He lived a wonderful, long, blessed life and got to see his grandchildren, and even a few great-grandchildren, grow up. My T-pa lived in Temple, so I have not gotten to see him much the past few years, but he has a very special place in my heart. I have such fond memories of him and D-ma from back when they lived in Amarillo, and in Dallas, and his 90th birthday party in Temple. He was present for so many special events in my life and I am so thankful for that. He was at my Tech graduation, despite the fact that he was terribly sick. He was at my wedding, where I even have a beautiful picture of us dancing. He came to Holliday shortly after Crockett Christopher was born. He even came to Holliday for Crockett's 1st birthday party. My T-pa never forgot to tell me how special he thought I was and I hope he knew that the feeling was very mutual. I have never met someone with a more positive attitude than him. The past few years, my dad and I would talk about T-pa and get a good laugh because any time you asked T-pa how he was, no matter how he really was or what was going on, he would say "oh, I'm fantastic" or "just dandy". He LOVED to eat! We all would get a kick out of the endless hole that was his stomach. He would eat shrimp by the bowl-full and did not like to have to compete for them! He would eat and eat until he couldn't eat anything else. If he was full, he was happy! And for all of his birthday parties, I knew I could always expect the chocolate-ist of chocolate cakes :) This does not even begin to tell of the memories I have of him, but just of the fondness that I carry for him. I love my T-pa and am sad knowing that he is not here anymore. I am so lucky that I got to have him in my life for 33 years. He was such a special man.
Chris, Crockett, Bowen and I drove to Temple for the funeral. Although it was a CRAZY, long trip, I am so glad I went. It was a beautiful service and he received military honors, which was very cool. They did a 21-gun salute, played TAPS (gave me goosebumps) and folded the flag. What an awesome tribute. I got to see D-Ma and my dad, Aunt Susan, Uncle Mike and Aunt Anne. I even got to meet a couple of family memebers I had never met before. We were so glad we were there to pay our respects for a man who was such a special part of my life.
Robert Mires Tilley
Services with military honors for Robert Mires Tilley, 91, of Temple will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 20, at Christ Episcopal Church in Temple.
Inurnment will be at a later date at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen.
Mr. Tilley died Tuesday, July 9, in a local nursing home.
He was born October 11, 1921, in Houston, MO, to Robert Bruce and Virginia Young Tilley.
Mr. Tilley retired from the Army as a lieutenant colonel after 30 years of service, including combat duty in World War II. He was an instructor at Amarillo College for 27 years and was chairman of the psychology department. He was a member of the Fort Worth Rotary Club, and served on the board of directors of the Amarillo Child Welfare board. He was a member of Christ Episcopal Church in Temple.
He married Betty Tilley in 1946. He married Dorotha Truelove of Temple on February 4, 1978.
Survivors include his wife; six children, Anne Tilley Clark of Dallas, Susan Tilley McCormick of Baytown, Bruce Tilley of San Antonio, Michael Tilley of Dallas, Margaret Tilley Fischer of Shreveport, and Mary Tilley Latimer of Lima, OH; two stepsons, Bryan Edds of McGregor and Brett Edds of Little River-Academy; 11 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
