Vessie V. Tillery

OBITUARY VESSIE TILLERY Vessie Tillery was born February 14, 1916, and passed away April 24, 2007, at Citizens Memorial Healthcare Facility. Vessie was born near Ash Grove, MO., to Travis and Lula Conn Hicks and moved to the Bolivar vicinity as a young girl and spent the rest of her life in the Bolivar area. Vessie was married to James Jim Bates in 1937. Vessie and Jim lived on a farm north of Bolivar where they milked cows, farmed, and always raised a huge garden. During this time, Vessie worked part-time at the Dew-Drop-In and then the Bolivar Hotel Restaurant. She also found time during all of the work to sew and make all of her own clothes. Vessie was well known for her delicious pies which she was still making until last November. Jim and Vessie lived on the farm until his death in 1975. A neighbor, Janice Franklin, helped Vessie learn to drive after which she received her first drivers license. Vessie sold the farm and moved to Bolivar. She then met and started dating Ralph Tillery and they married on August 27, 1983. Ralph and Vessie enjoyed traveling and especially liked going to Silver Dollar City. Vessie was saved at an early age. For several years she belonged to and attended Calvary Missionary Baptist Church. Many were the Sundays she would be picked up at the farm north of Bolivar by Lillie Phillips and Mary Ables to be taken to church. After moving into Bolivar, Vessie became a charter member of Southside Missionary Baptist Church where she remained a faithful member until health kept her at home. When Vessie stopped driving, she was taken to church by either Ralph, his son Larry, or Barbara McColm. Vessie was preceded in death by her parents, first husband, brothers Claude, Beacher, and Milford Hicks, sisters Verla Murphy, Verna Waters, Ercie Brewer, and Gail Campbell. Survivors include her husband Ralph, nephews Gary Campbell and wife Elizabeth of Bolivar, Larry and wife Madeline and Bob Brewer of Springfield, one niece, Louise Gilden, husband Delbert and three children of Wichita, Kansas; great nephews Tom Campbell and wife Jamie and David Campbell of Bolivar, Matt Campbell of Kansas City, and Travis Brewer of Springfield, and her very special great-great nieces and nephews Daniel, Sarah, Madison, Megan and Blake Campbell, and Brittany Brewer. Other survivors include her step-children Larry Tillery of Bolivar, Marilyn Glenn and husband Joe of Arcola, and David Tillery and wife Beth of Springfield; step- grandchildren Stephen Tillery, wife Rita and 3 children of Springfield, Kipper Tillery, wife Pam and 2 children of Rondo, Ann McFerron, husband Mike, and their son of Lockport, Illinois, Kimberly, Karrie and Krista Glenn of Arcola, Chad Tillery of Springfield, and Kristen Boschert and husband Chad of Springfield. Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 27, 2007 at 10:30 AM in the Butler Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Gayland Lightfoot and Bro. John Brown officiating. Musical selections will be "Touring That City", "Precious Memories", and "Amazing Grace". The Krtek sisters will be singing. Burial will be in the Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of the Butler Funeral Home of Bolivar. Casketbearers will be Tom Campbell, David Campbell, Matt Campbell, Travis Brewer, Stephen Tillery, Kipper Tillery, and Chad Tillery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Southside Missionary Baptist Church % Butler Funeral Home, P.O. Box 11, Bolivar, MO 65613 Friends may sign the guest book or send private condolences at www.butlerfuneralhome.com PDF Printable Version

Vessie V. Tillery

February 14, 1916 - April 24, 2007