Mary Ellen Tilley was born November 7, 1952 in Boone, Iowa the daughter of Floyd and Leona Kowalawski Tilley. She died July 29, 2016 at the Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson at the age of 63 years.
Services were held Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Ogden with Father Jim Bruch officiating. Karna Dougherty was the organist. Casket bearers were David Anthony, Gary Lindgren, Gary Hunter, Tom Buckley, Evans McWilliam and Rick Rittgers. Interment was in Junction Township Cemetery, Grand Junction, Iowa.
Mary grew up in Ogden, Iowa and graduated from Ogden High School in 1971. After high school, Mary began to work as a caretaker. She was always there for family and friends whenever there was a need.
Mary spent the last 25 years with her partner Kent McWilliam. Together they loved to go on long buggy rides and she loved driving her pickup around the country side. Mary and Kent spent the last 20 years traveling south for the winter. In the late 1990’s, Mary developed health issues and suffered many years with pain.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Leona Tilley; her grandparents, Jim and Mary Tilley and Cashmere and Constance Kowalawski; and sister-in-law, Susie Anthony. She is survived by her partner of 25 years, Kent McWilliam of Paton, Iowa; three brothers: David Anthony of Ogden, Jim Tilley of Ames and Gary Hunter of Stratford, Iowa; two sisters, Donna (Gary) Lindgren and Patty (Tom) Buckley both of Ogden; step-daughter, Ann Marie Yoder of Dallas, Texas; several nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.
Services were arranged by Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home, Jefferson.