Dr. James Fred Tillery

Dr. James Fred Tillery, 69, Meriden, died Thursday, April 27, 2006, at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, MO.
Dr. Tillery had formerly lived in Valley Falls for 38 years and had practiced dentistry there for 30 years. He was a member of the Valley Falls United Methodist Church and of the American Dental Association. He was a former member of the Valley Falls Rotary Club.
He was born on Dec. 18, 1936, at Kansas City, KS, the son of James P. and Floretta Lile Tillery. He attended Bloomfield Grade School north of Meriden and from Valley Falls High School in 1955. He later graduated from Washburn University and also from UMKC Dental School in 1964.
He married Cleo Ann Dick, on March 11, 1956, at the First Presbyterian Church in Oskaloosa and they recently celebrated their 50th anniversary.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Hazel Kincaid.
Fred is survived by the love of his life, Cleo, of the home; three sons, Brad Tillery, and his wife Terry, Meriden, Dr. Bruce Tillery, Ozawkie, Bryan Tillery and his wife, Angie, Valley Falls; a daughter, Carla Davis, and her husband, Dr. John Davis, Burlingame; a sister, Reva Epler, Colorado Springs, CO; nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
As a loving husband, father and grandfather, Fred will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.
A funeral service will be at 1:30 pm, Monday, at the Valley Falls United Methodist Church. Burial will be at the Valley Falls Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:30-8:30 p.m., at Mercer Funeral Home in Valley Falls.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Valley Falls United Methodist Church and sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home, 810 Broadway, Valley Falls, KS 66088. Online condolences are available at mercerfuneralhomes.com