Jesse Irving "Tilly" Tillotson

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Jesse Irving "Tilly" Tillotson, 80, Cookeville, Tenn., passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011 in Cookeville. He had moved from Hadley, Mass. in 2008.

He was born March 18, 1930 to Donald Carlos Buell and Ruby Elsie (Stultz) Tillotson in Wolcott. He was the last of nine children, Leona, Don, James, Rosie, Ruth, Esther, Elizabeth and Patricia.

Tilly graduated from Brookston High School in 1948 and served in the Korean War with the U.S. Army as a communication specialist. Upon his return from Korea, he went to work for the railroad and later moved to Bainbridge to run the depot.

He was active in the Boy Scouts and was an Eagle Scout and later a scoutmaster. His troop began the tradition of placing flags on veterans' graves in Bainbridge.

He moved to Amherst, Mass. in 1972 and retired from the Amherst Housing Authority, where he was maintenance supervisor. Tilly and his wife owned and operated JM Property Management until they sold the business in 2008.

He was a member of Cloverleaf Squares dance club and Baystate Travelers. He enjoyed gardening, canning and cooking. He was an accomplished woodworker. He won numerous awards for his outstanding beer and wine. He enjoyed traveling in his RV.

He was a member of the American Legion in Hadley Post 271.

He is survived by his children Vance of New Whiteland, Timothy (Viki) of Bainbridge, Sharon (Chuck) Byrd Greencastle and Steven (Kelly) of Brownsburg, a daughter Phetney and son-in-law Joe, who reside in Cookeville, Tenn.; nine grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews who fondly called him "Uncle Bud."

Burial will be at a later date at the Agawam, Mass. Veterans Memorial Cemetery.