Betty Marie Tillery

In Loving Memory
Betty Marie Goins Tillery was born July 6, 1932 in Everton, Arkansas to Orson Daniel Goins and Stella Marie Dale Goins. Betty passed away peacefully on September 16, 2026. Betty was the third child of four. She graduated from Fairland Oklahoma High School.
Shortly after graduating, she met a young carpenter who was in town building a new house. Burl Tillery turned out to be the one for her. They married and spent the rest of their lives together until Burl’s passing October 28, 2011. At various times they lived in Missouri, Oregon, Oklahoma, and then back to Missouri. They raised 4 ornery boys who enjoyed playing pranks on their Mother. James Dwaine was the oldest, then Howard Linn, Kenneth Ray, and William Lawerence completed their family.
Betty started working after her boys were in school beginning at Kress Store in Nevada, MO. She also worked at Unique Optical in Rich Hill, as a housekeeper, a care provider for both adults and children, and cooked at several local restaurants.
She loved family gatherings, traveling, camping at the lake and in her younger years, fishing. Family meals were usually followed by some kind of game. As her family grew, she became Grandma Till to all her grandchildren. She loved her grandchildren dearly and according to some, spoiled them rotten. She spent many hours rocking her grandkids and cooking good meals for her family. Some of her family described her as faithful, fun, and feisty.
She was preceded in death by both of her parents; her stepfather, William Shelby (Shep) Canada; her husband Burl; her siblings, Dorothy Norris, Orson Goins, and Robert Goins; and her grandson Brian Tillery.
She is survived by Jim (Patty) Tillery, Ken (Karen) Tillery, Bill (Joyce) Tillery all of Rich Hill, MO; Howard (Brenda) Tillery of Butler, MO; 10 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great grandson; 2 sisters-in-law, Corky Tillery and Shirley Goins. She will be missed by many other family members and friends.

Funeral Service will be held Saturday, September 19 at 11:00 am, at the Heuser Funeral Home.  Visitation will be from 10:00 am until service time.  Burial will follow in the Green Lawn Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers donations to the Kern Senior Center are suggested.