Jeanetta Rae (Welcher) Tillery was born November 28, 1935, to Lynn and Irene (Bost) Welcher, three miles southwest of Elmore City, Oklahoma, at her Grandmother Welcher’s home. She went to be with her Heavenly Father on Friday, July 14, 2023, at 87 years of age. J Jeanetta was the oldest of ten children known as the Welcher Tribe. She grew up helping care for her younger siblings. She started school at Satterwhite and went there until the seventh grade and then attended Elmore City from eighth grade until she graduated in 1954. She was saved and baptized in August of 1949, at the age of 13 years and joined Satterwhite Missionary Baptist Church, where she was a faithful member until her passing. She rarely missed a service or a revival and could always be heard singing her favorite hymns. On May 7, 1954, Vernon Tillery, the love of her life, picked her up from school and took her to Norman, Oklahoma where they were married. They made their home in Elmore City on East A Street where they spent the rest of their lives together, just one month shy of 69 years. Jeanetta prided herself on being a housewife and mother. During that time she worked many odd jobs, “anything to make a dollar”, allowing her to still be home with her children. In 1996, she began working for Wooster Funeral Home, where she worked for 24 years. There she was known for greeting grieving families at the door with a kind word and a hug. Jeanetta spent her time gardening, filling her bird feeders, canning, sewing fancy matching dresses for her granddaughters, cooking and providing meals for her family, as well as those in need. Her homemade goods were a staple at the Elmore City Fair and bake sale. She had a love for the Oklahoma Sooners, Dallas Cowboys, and Texas Rangers, keeping up with all their games on television. Jeanetta also enjoyed catching up and laughing with all her friends at the annual Elmore City Alumni Banquet and her class reunions. Her favorite past time was traveling and supporting her kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids in any activity that they were involved in. Jeanetta made holidays at their home extra special. She filled and hung 48 stockings, one for each member of her family, every Christmas and filled dozens of eggs with handwritten notes, every Easter. All while making sure that her family knew the true meaning of each holiday. Jeanetta had a true servant’s heart that showed through in all that she did; she truly understood being the hands and feet of Jesus. Her greatest desire was for all her family to be in church and live for God. She never missed sending a card for a birthday, anniversary, or holiday to all that she loved; and was known to call everyone “hon.” She was a loving momma, grandma, mema, ba-jetta, sister, aunt, and friend. She will be missed by many.
Those left to continue her legacy include her children, Ronald and Brenda Tillery of Hennepin, Oklahoma, Rickey and Anita Tillery of Edmond, Oklahoma, and Renee and Michael Johnson of Elmore City; grandchildren and their families, Jodie and Jeff Clemons and Jaxon and Jentry of Ardmore, Oklahoma, Justin and Ardra Tillery and Faith and Chase of Dougherty, Oklahoma, Jayme and Jason Cook and Jade, Jesse, and Jaysen (JB) of Elmore City, Amber and Rod Smith and Noah and Reid of Piedmont, Oklahoma, Autumn and Justin McCaulla and Nixon and Jett of Piedmont, Oklahoma, Malley and Brett Lynes and Karson and Hudson of Edmond, Oklahoma, Masey and Cory Listen and Ellee of Edmond, Oklahoma, Ashley and Justin Caldwell and Grady of Elgin, Oklahoma, Corey and Shallen Johnson and Cason, Brock, Cannon, Tayleigh, and Stassi of Elmore City, and Courtney and Jeremy Ezzell and Cadence and Abram of Maysville, Oklahoma; three sisters, Lura Beth and Jim Veazey of Harrah, Oklahoma, Glenda Colwell of Lawton, Oklahoma, and Jacklyn and Johnny Harman of Elmore City; two brothers, Tommy and Virginia Welcher of Ada, Oklahoma and Clinton and Cathy Welcher of Ada, Oklahoma; one sister-in-law, Bonnie Welcher of Elmore City; one brother-in-law, Wayne Begley of Lawton, Oklahoma. Along with a host of family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon Edward Tillery, by three months and nine days; her parents, Lynn and Irene Welcher; two sisters, Sandra Kay Nation and Ronda “Hopie” Begley; three brothers, Wendell Paul Welcher, Lynn Roy Welcher, and Stevie Welcher; one brother-in-law, Don Colwell; one grandson, Jesse Wyatt Tillery; and one great-granddaughter, Gracie Rae Ezzell.
The family would like to express their sincere thanks to the staff of Arbuckle Memorial Hospital, CrossTimbers Hospice, and her caretakers, Rosa Pyle and Kelli Honeycutt, for the wonderful care that was given to our mother and grandmother.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made, in memory of Jeanetta, to a fund set up at Paul’s Valley National Bank-Elmore City Branch (PO Box 435, Elmore City, Oklahoma 73433) to be used for the Elmore City FFA and 4-H local spring stock show.
Funeral service were held July 19, 2023, at Elmore City First Baptist Church with Terry Colwell officiating. Interment followed at the Elmore City Cemetery under the direction of Wooster Funeral Home.
