William Ira Tillery (1916 - 1997)

Born 14 Feb 1916 in Knoxville, TN

Ancestors

Died 15 Feb 1997 at age 81 in Oak Ridge, TN

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Biography

This biography was auto-generated by a GEDCOM import. It's a rough draft and needs to be edited.

User ID

ID: 85E25DF20DFC6346908F9CF1B1F6CD32BAEA

Occupation

Floral designer, Woodworker, Craftsman

Note

General Notes: Newspaper obituary: "81, 602 Michigan Avenue, Oak Ridge, went to be with Jesus on Saturday, February 15, 1997, NHC Health Care Center. Born to parents Ross Tillery and Emily Boone Tillery in Knox County, Tenn., on February 4, 1916. Worked for Union Carbide, X-10. Member of Glenwood Baptist Church and Faith Masonic Lodge #756. Preceded in death by parents; and sister, Helen Graham. He and his wife celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary as well as his 81st birthday on February 4, 1997. Mr. Tillery was a designer for Brockway Crouch's Florist in his younger years. A devoted family man who cared deeply for others. Survivors include wife, Mattie Sue Guinn Tillery, Oak Ridge; daughters, Emily Cornstock, Johnson City, Jane Murphy, Knoxville; son, Bill Tillery, Maryville; 10 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; sisters, Katheryn Smith, Nancy Dodson, Frankie Stanley, all of Knoxville. Graveside services will be held on Monday, February 17, 1997, 1 p.m. at Anderson Memorial Gardens with Dr. Charles Clark officiating. The family will receive friends on Sunday (today) evening, 6-8 p.m. at Weatherford Mortuary, Oak Ridge."Newspaper clipping:"William Ira Tillery; Woodworker and craftsman --"William Ira Tillery, 81, of 602 Michigan Avenue, died Saturday, February 15, 1997, at NHC HealthCre center of Oak Ridge."Mr. Tillery, a retired employee of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, was a craftsman and hardwood refinisher who for many years operated an antique refinishing shop on Warehose Road to help pay for his children's education. Some of his work went to the Shah of Iran and to three U.S. presidents, and some of it is currently at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C."He retired in 1978 from Union Crbide Nuclear Division. In his younger years, he was a designer for Brockway Crouch's Florist."Mr. Tillery was born in Knox County on Feb. 4, 1916, the son of Ross and Emily Boone Tillery. He was a direct descendant of Daniel Boone and 'Johnny Appleseed' Chapman. An avid gardner, he loved the outdoors and knew the names of the trees and most flowers, his family said, adding that he was happy spending time in the garden 'with his vegetable, God and a pesky groundhog.'"'He often told us he did a lot of his best talking with the Lord whenever he was in the garden, that is, when he wasn't chasing the groundhog,' his daughter said."Mr. Tillery also enjoyed music. He played the guitar, the ukelele and harmonica, through which he wooed his wife, Mattie Sue Guinn Tillery, who survives him. Years ago, he and two friends had an early morning program on Radio Station WNOX on which they sang and 'picked' original country songs."He was a member of Glenwood Baptist Church and sang in a quartet at many church functions. In earlier years, he also led singing at the 'cottage prayers,' his family said. He was also a member of Faith Masonic Lodge No. 756 in Oak Ridge."The family said his biggest attribute was his 'non pretentious, genuine love for God, his family, his friends and his country.' Tears would always flow when the flag would go by and he heard the national anthem, his daughter said."Mr. Tillery liked helping people and had a deep concern for the 'unfortunate' and would always find a private way to help them, his daughter said, adding, 'He loved to laugh at a good joke and was not a preachy or critical man.'"He and his wife celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary as well as his 81st birthday on Feb. 4."In addition to his wife, Mr. Tillery is survived by two daughters, Emily Comstock of Johnson City, and June Murphy of Knoxville; a son, Bill Tillery of Maryville; three sisters, Katheryn Smith, Nancy Dodson and Frankie Stanley, all of Knoxville; and 10 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren."A graveside service was to be held at 1 this afternoon, Feb. 17, at Anderson Memorial Gardens in Clinton, with the Rev. Charles Clark officiating."Weatherford Mortuary handled arrangements." (-- from The Oak Ridger, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, February 17, 1997)

Data Changed

Changed:

9 Jul 2012

12:00:43

Prior to import, this record was last changed 12:00:43 9 Jul 2012.

Sources

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Catherine Rivera for creating WikiTree profile Tillery-564 through the import of Tillery Update 2012.ged on Apr 4, 2013.

Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by Catherine and others.