Charles T. J. Tilley

Charles T. J. Tilley, lifelong Prue area resident, passed away at his home in Prue on Friday, April 9, 2004 at the age of sixty-two years, ten months and twenty-seven days.

Charles was born May 12, 1941 at Pawhuska, Oklahoma. He was the son of Ted and Linnie (Mitchell) Tilley. Charles was raised and attended school in Prue, graduating from Prue High School in 1962.

Upon graduation from high school, Charles worked at the Empire Foundry in Tulsa for several years before being inducted into the service of his country on April 5, 1967. He served honorably in the United States Army until his discharge on March 14, 1968 when he was transferred to Army Reserve. While on active duty, Charles served in the medical corps in Europe for over a year. Upon completion of his active military obligation he returned to Oklahoma and then was married to Carolyn Kay Cypert at Bartlesville, Oklahoma on August 7, 1970.

After their marriage, the couple moved to Prue where they have made their home for nearly thirty four years. After moving back to Prue, Charles returned to work at the Empire Foundry for several years before accepting employment working cattle on a ranch in Osage County. Later he was employed as a maintenance man for the Prue School System for many years. For the past ten years due to ill health, Charles has primarily worked as a vegetable gardener, which was also his hobby.

Charles was a member of the First Baptist Church in Prue. Additionally, he served nearly eight years on the Prue City Council and has always been active in the Prue Community. He was considered by his family and friends and a person that could fix or repair just about anything. He was a handyman and enjoyed working on anything broken. Prior to his illness, Charles enjoyed hunting and fishing and was an avid bluegrass musician, playing the guitar.

Charles is survived by his wife, Carolyn Kay Tilley, of the home; son, Timothy Charles Tilley of Prue, Oklahoma; grandson, Eric Troutman of Prue, Oklahoma; three brothers, Kim Tilley and Junior Tilley, both of Sand Springs, Oklahoma and Dale Tilley of Tulsa, Oklahoma; four sisters, Treva Lampkin of Sand Springs, Oklahoma Fern Spencer of Hominy, Oklahoma Joyce Standridge, of Mannford, Oklahoma and Madge Hamilton of Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was preceded in death by parents; three brothers, Tony, Ullyess and Donnie; and a sister, Marie Boyd.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m,, Tuesday, April 13, 2004 at the First Baptist Church in Prue with Rev. Garry McDevitt officiating. Burial will be at the Prairie View Cemetery under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home in Cleveland.

Visit an online obituary and guestbook for Charles T. J. Tilley at www.chapman-black.com.