Ray Tilley

Robert Ray Tilley

"Ray"

Age 58 of Braidwood, passed away Saturday May 21, 2011 at home surrounded by family and friends, due to lung cancer.

Born October 29, 1952 in Gary, Indiana, Ray was a son of the late Robert Ray, Sr. and Lillian Leoria Patton-Tilley. Ray was a Veteran of the United States Army, having served during the Vietnam Era and worked as a Boilermaker with Local #1 in Chicago. He was a great Chicago Bears fan and can be remembered for his love of camping, fishing, NASCAR and family demolition derby outings.

Survivors include his wife of twelve years: Cheri; children: Bobby (Jennifer) Tilley, Brandy (Jeff) Thompson, Alan (Mary) Jurkowski, Stephanie Jurkowski; thirteen grandchildren: Tori, Cole, Kile, Kilie, Zachary, Aiden, Trent, Korbin, Jayden, Zennin, Ariana, Kaylinn and Gracley with another on the way; siblings: Marylynn Spears, Johnny (Sherrie) Guthre, Vonna (Fiance - Tom McDonald) Nelson, Jimmy (Deb) Tilley, Donna (Dave) Worral and Jackie (George) Harvey; brothers and sisters-in-law: Bill (Paula) Placher, John (Tammy) Placher, David (Diana) Placher, Joe (Dawn) Placher, Bethann and Beckey Newcomb; mother-in-law: Eileen (Don) Newcomb and father-in-law: Bill (Ann) Placher, Sr.

The family will receive friends on Friday May 27, 2011 from 9:30AM until time of services 12:30AM at Freitag-Reeves & Baskerville Funeral Home, 700 East Kahler Road in Wilmington (815/476-2181) Joe Placher will officiate, and interment will follow in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, where Military Honors will be conducted at 2:00PM.

Preferred memorials may be made as gifts in Ray's memory to the American Cancer Society.

Friends may sign the online guest book or send private condolences to the family by logging onto: www.ReevesFuneral.com

Funeral services and arrangements have been made under the direction and care of Freitag-Reeves & Baskerville Funeral Home in Wilmington. (815/476-2181)