Thomas G. Lilley

Thomas G. Lilley, 85, of Carbondale, and formerly of Alto Pass, died Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012.

He was born July 28, 1927, in Alto Pass, the son of Hubert Jesse Hode and Mary Ann Milton Lilley.

He married Mildred Catherine Hickam on April 2, 1949, in Osceola, Ark. She survives in Carbondale.

They had five children: Pam (Gary) Ratley of Galatia, Debbie Fears of Anna, Terry (Cathy) Lilley of Murphysboro, Tom Lilley deceased and Beth (Gary) Hart of Murphysboro.

They also had 10 grandchildren: Gary (Julia) Ratley Jr., Terry (Hetti Brown) Lilley Jr., Jennifer Ratley, Christina (Kirk) Hagene, Ami (Van) Plexico, Chris Fears, Amanda (Mark) Kirk, Melissa (Doug Boecklen) Lilley, Jeremiah (Paige) Lilley and Steven Lilley.

They had 18 great-grandchildren: Brian, Rebecca, Emily, Kristen, Olivia, Thomas, Allie, Lydia, Aaron, Brianna, Katie, Sarah, Addie, Calvin, Maddie, Mira, Clayton and Maddison, with Ivy Jean to be born in March of 2013.

Other survivors include stepbrothers Sonny and Tom Myers and stepsisters Irma Frick, Shirley Osladil and Betty Cacioppo; brothers-in-law: Phillip (Helen) Hickam and John (Delores) Hickam; sisters-in-law Verena Wilkerson, Stella (Bill) Tegal and Connie (Carter) Cottrell, and several nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents, his stepfather, Clifford Myers; his brother and sister-in-law, James H. Lilley and Ruby Lilley; step-brother Butch Myers; and his son Thomas H. Lilley.

He served in the U.S. Army. He was stationed at Fort Benning, Ga., and served overseas at Camp Chickamauga in Beppu, Japan.

He worked for GTE from 1949 to 1982, starting as a lineman and retiring as a supervisor. He worked in Anna, Sandwich, Carmi, Harrisburg and Carbondale. After he retired from GTE, he worked at SIU as a telephone installation inspector.

He found great joy in working in his garden and yard. He also liked to fish, spending several weeks at a time at Lake Barkley fishing and camping with his wife Mildred.

He accepted Christ on Aug. 2, 2002. He was baptized on Nov. 17, 2002, exactly 10 years ago. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Alto Pass. He was a past Sunday School superintendent, served on the  baptismal and pulpit committees, and was  a deacon.

Funeral services were at the First Baptist Church in Alto Pass at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012 with the Rev. Mark Kirk, Pastor Steve Raglin and the Rev. Cliff Waller officiating.   

Memorials can be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation, First Baptist Church of Alto Pass or Passages Hospice.

To view this obituary or to leave an online condolence for the family, visit www.rendlemanhilemanfh.com.    

Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Alto Pass was in charge of arrangemtns.


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