Roy Tillery

Roy W Tillery, 80, of Cairo, Mo. passed away Tuesday March 22, 2022.  He was born, January 01, 1942 in Fayetteville, Ark to the union of Alonzo and Nina (Langston) Tillery.

Roy married Barbara May, October 1st, 1965 in Kirksville and she passed away April 18, 2021.  Also preceding him in death were his parents, a daughter Vikki Love and his step mother, Fay Tillery. 

Roy graduated high school and joined the United States Air Force,  September, 1961, where he trained to be an electrician and diesel mechanic; he also trained in Athens, Greece for 18 months:  March, 1965, after receiving his honorable discharge from the United States Air Force he returned home  to work for McGraw Edison in Kirksville: he then moved to Aurora, Il to work for Caterpillar Tractor where he worked on all types of machinery, and  was promoted to inspector for his remaining 17.5  years until retirement.

He salvaged 33 cars from the crushers and restored them, his pride and joy was a 1955 T-Bird that he toured and showed for over 50 years.  He enjoyed doing some stock car racing and had many hot rod cars, some good some bad he says.

Survivors include a daughter, Debbie McClain and her husband Cecil of Moberly, Mo, 6 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren, half-sister Treasa Merry, 2 half-brothers Jerry and Glen Tillery, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Words of comfort and support were shared with the family at a visitation held in the Cater Funeral Home Chapel.  Funeral services and Military Honors, honoring and celebrating Roy’s life followed.  Private committal prayer and burial took place at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery.