Jessica Tilley

Jessica Jeraldean Tilley, affectionately known to many as "Jackie" passed away peacefully Sunday, February 16,2025 at the age of 72, in her 2nd hometown of Denison, Texas. Born on November 8, 1952, in Toledo, Ohio, Jackie lived a life enriched with love, kindness, and a keen sense of purpose. She found great joy and fulfillment in her vocation as a RN, a journey she embarked upon after graduating from nursing school at Grayson College in 1980. Jackie dedicated her career and life to caring for others, starting with her family and then with her work at Texoma Medical Center as a Med/Surg RN, focusing on pre-and post-operative surgeries from 1980 to 1982. It was in the field of psychiatric nursing where she truly left her mark, tenderly guiding her patients through challenging times in their lives, until her retirement in 2016. Her career was not just a profession but a true calling, reflecting her compassionate nature and unwavering patience.
Jackie's personal life was full of devotion as her professional life. In 1971, she married her first husband Lonnie Ward, and together they welcomed four wonderful sons-Scott, Jeremy, Eric, and Ryan. Though their marriage ended in 1986, Jackie and Lonnie shared many joyous memories. In March 1988 Jackie had found love again and someone to share her life with and married Jerry Tilley, embracing his children, Tony, and Jodi, as her own. Deeply rooted in her faith, Jackie was an active member of her church community. She expressed her steadfast Christian beliefs through acts of service and commitment. She volunteered monthly for many years to provide meals for families during tough times that were staying at Reba's Ranch house once a month. She participated in volunteer church activities if she was able to. She participated in Women of Purpose meetings with the church. Her dedication to offer support and love to those around her was further exemplified by her many contributions to the United Way, Feed the Children, St Jude's and many other foundations, these are just to name a few. Truly, to know Jackie was to encounter kindness, patience, and a forgiving heart.
Beyond her service and commitments, Jackie savored life's simple pleasures-monthly gatherings with her "girls' group," outings to the movies with family and friends, and embarking on driving adventures and going on vacations. She cherished every opportunity to connect with her family and even her life-long best friend Deb Lile. She loved a good card game, scrabble, or some bingo. She has always meticulously marked on calendars with birthdays of family and friends, ensuring that no birthday was forgotten, as she always sent out cards filled with love and warmth and remembrance of their births and place in her life. Jackie's legacy is one of love-a love that was patient, kind, and never self-seeking.
This love was most profoundly experienced by her beloved sons, Scott (April), Jeremy, Eric (Jennifer), Ryan (Lauren), who all remained the core of her world and the source of her deepest pride and joy. Grandkids: Phillip, Tayor (Daniel), Audrey, Alexys (Avery), Dylan, Colby (Lauren), Jacob (Cameron), Brooklynn (JD), Alex (Alexis), Andrew (Alexis), Zachary, and Maddox Great grandkids: Kaiden, Kyler, Raelynn, Ryan, Alayna, Aurora, and many more to come! Jackie is survived by her husband Jerry Tilley, her siblings, Kevin Tyree (Eloise), Tim Tyree (Theresa), Paula Tyree, and Karla Martin, her devoted sons and their families, and many cherished grandchildren who will continue to carry forth her spirit.
She reunites in heaven with her predeceased parents Bill and Gwen Tyree, her brother David Tyree, and her great granddaughter Kalynn Adams, along with many other loved ones, finding eternal peace in the embrace of the Lord she so deeply loved.
Funeral Services in celebration of Jackie's life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at Trinity Lighthouse Church, in Denison, TX, with Rev. Raymond England, officiating. Interment will follow in Cedarlawn Memorial Park and the family would like all family and friends to gather back at the church for a slideshow of memories and a dinner in celebration of her life following graveside.
Pallbearers will be Colby Ward, Jacob Ward, Dylan Ward, Alex Ward, Andrew Ward, Zachary Ward, JD Long, Avery Dodson and honorary pallbearer Maddox Ward.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. till 7:00 p.m. at Fisher Funeral Home Monday, February 24, 2025.
In closing, we remember Jackie with the words that epitomized her life and love: "Love is patient, love is kind." These words guided her every day and remain with her enduring message to all who knew her. We hold these sentiments close as we remember and honor a woman whose spirit will forever inspire us to love unconditionally, forgive easily, and live with kindness. The profound greatness of these virtues, as expressed by Jackie, exemplifies a life beautifully lived.