John Tillison

John Frederick Tillison, age 63 of Tahlequah, Oklahoma passed away during his battle with lung cancer Wednesday, February 14, 2023 at the Northeastern Health System in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. John won and beat that ULB.

Celebration of Life Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, February 23, 2023 at the Fort Gibson Church of Christ with Roger Hughes officiating. Graveside Services for close friends and family will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, February 23, 2023 at the Tahlequah City Cemetery.

Visitation hours will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 22, 2023 with the family receiving friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Hart Funeral Home.

John Frederick Tillison was born July 19, 1959 in Port Jefferson, New York to John Henry and Eleanor Frances (Krause) Tillison.  He grew up in a military family so the family moved around a lot before being in Taiwan for several years. The family moved back to Midwest City, Oklahoma before settling in Tahlequah, Oklahoma where he graduated High School in 1977.

John owned and operated a float company after High School in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. He then worked for Cable Company and traveled the world doing so. On September 7, 1991 John married Judy Wikel in Las Vegas, Nevada. The couple made their home in Vineland, New Jersey and lived in a castle in St. Andrew’s, Scotland before settling in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. He worked as a Finance Director at Lakes Country in Muskogee. John lived an adventurous life and lived for big family get togethers, his grandkids and filling the room with his amazing thankfulness to be surrounded by loved ones. He was an avid, die-hard chiefs fan who never missed a game. Whether it was in person, or on the television he was there to give a play by play.

Survivors include his wife Judy of the home; seven children John Alan Tillison of Stilwell, Oklahoma, Autumn Dawn Tillison and Matt Newman of Yale, Oklahoma, Justin Kyle (Brooke) Tillison of Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, Jeffery Dale Tillison of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, James Andrew (Felicia Chippewa) Tillison of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, Jennifer Lynn (John) Kimble of Tahlequah, Oklahoma and Janel Frances (Tricia Wardlow) Tillison of Tahlequah, Oklahoma; siblings Joe Tillison of Littleton, Colorado, James Tillison of Ada, Oklahoma, Jan Carriger-Tillison of Tahlequah, Oklahoma and Jeffrey Tillison of Oveida, Florida; eleven grandchildren Gage Tillison, Nathan Newman, Ayla Payton, Evelyn Tillison, Maddi Kimble, Augustus Kimble, Conner Kimble, Colt Kimble, John Kimble, Lillie Tillison and Noah Tillison. He was preceded in death by his parents.