Harlene Tillerson
Edwardsville |
Iola Harlene Tillerson, age 89, of Edwardsville, Illinois, passed away on July 30, 2024, at
her home, surrounded by a loving family.
Harlene was born on January 28, 1935, in Sorento, Illinois, the daughter of Harlan and Martha (Pope) Wall. On January 12, 1957, she married John R. Tillerson, in Edwardsville, Illinois. He preceded her in death on March 10, 1977.
Harlene was a woman of faith and believed in Jesus Christ. She spent much of her youth going to church revivals, church camps, and Sunday worship.
She worked for the Army Corps of Engineers for many years on huge computers that were the forerunners of the desktop computers we use today. She enjoyed traveling in the United States as well as abroad in Spain and Portugal.
Her grandchildren enjoyed the many hours she spent reading to them and always read them ‘just one more, Grandma.’ She also taught the grandchildren to work puzzles and played records for them.
Harlene surprised the family with a secret sense of adventure when she went whitewater rafting in her 60’s and they also learned that she had played the accordion. She loved driving around Edwardsville with her grandchildren telling them about the Edwardsville she grew up in.
Surviving Harlene are her children, Stephen (Nenet) Tillerson of Renton, Washington, Jim
(Melanie) Tillerson of Edwardsville, Illinois, Diane (Greg) LeClair of Mesa, Arizona;
grandchildren, Jeffrey LeClair, Kassandra Tillerson, Angelique Tillerson, Jordan (Lilly) Tillerson, Michaela Tillerson, Amaya Tillerson; and great grandchildren, Mateo, Zoey, and Atticus.
Preceding her in death, in addition to her parents and husband, were her brother and sister-in-law, David & Jeanette Wall, and nephew, Michael Wall.
Graveside Service: 1:00 pm., Monday, August 5, 2024, at Sunnyside Cemetery, Sorento, Illinois.
In lieu of flowers, plants, and other gifts, the family asks that all tributes, in memory of Harlene, be given to the Edwardsville Public Library or Whitley’s Wishes.
Memorials may be mailed to the Edwardsville Public Library, 112 S. Kansas St., Edwardsville, IL 62025 or Whitley’s Wishes, PO Box 924, Edwardsville, IL 62025.
The family has entrusted Perfetti-Assalley Funeral Home in Sorento with the service.
Please visit www.assalleyfuneralhomes.com to share memories or offer condolences to the family.
