Helen Tilley

Helen Ann Tilley, 87, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, at her home.

She was born July 25, 1931, in Independence, Missouri, to James Henry and Leona Helen Hughes Anderton. She and Calvin Edward Tilley were married Oct. 20, 1979, at Lovell, Wyoming.

Helen was a gypsy at heart who loved to travel and lived in many places. She spent 20 years traveling with Edward to National High School rodeo finals. As her family grew, she enjoyed traveling around the U.S. to visit them. When she was not traveling, she enjoyed gardening and worked at several green houses, including one in Cape Girardeau where she did floral design. Helen was a member of Abbey Road Christian Church where she enjoyed singing in the choir for several years and with the New Life Singers and with the Heartland Pops.

Survivors include her husband; daughter, Deb (John) Browne of Cape Girardeau; son, Kenny (Lori) Heman of Lone Grove, Oklahoma; sister, Carol Heman of Buckner, Missouri; brother, James (Ollie) Anderton of Maquoketa, Iowa; stepson, Doug (Lisa) Tilley of Pell City, Alabama; stepdaughter, April (Terry) Dorall of Larned, Kansas; stepdaughter, Holly (Sheldon) Flom of Reno, Nevada; 12 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Thomas Anderton; and stepson, Herbert Tilley.

There will be no visitation.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau, with the Rev. Doug Job officiating.

Memorial contributions may be given to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or Cape Evening Lion's Club.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.