Jo Leta Tilley

Jo Leta Tilley, 86, departed to be with her Lord and Savior on March 22, 2015. She was born in Carnegie, OK on April 12, 1928 to Azzie and Vestal (Haney) Coe. She spent time as a youth working on the family farm and playing competitive basketball. After graduating from Eakly High School in 1946, Jo attended Southwestern State College in Weatherford, where she played on the women's basketball team and became the first in her family to earn a college degree. Her love of children and sports led her to become a physical education teacher. She taught for more than 35 years at public schools in the OKC metro area, touching the lives of many through her service. Jo's greatest passion was her family. She was a devoted companion to her husband, Stan Tilley, for the 60 years preceding her death. Throughout her life she went above and beyond in the care and support of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She took special pleasure in attending their sporting events, which she traveled throughout the state and country to see. Church participation was also a high priority for Jo. She was a longstanding member at Chisholm Heights Baptist Church in Mustang. As part of the church's Mission Quilting Ministry, she put her sewing skills to use making quilts for the less fortunate. The fellowship she found in the Ministry was invaluable to her. Jo had a variety of other interests. She loved making conversation and meeting new people. She was an avid golfer in retirement, playing in several ladies groups in the metro area. She also enjoyed gardening, country and western music, and watching the OKC Thunder. We will all miss her smile, humor, optimism, and unconditional love. Jo's parents, her eldest brother, Wayne Coe and wife Lola, and youngest brother, Dean Coe, preceded her in death. She is survived by her husband Stan; her brother, Bill Coe and wife Gwen; her sister, Lois (Coe) Clear and husband Lester; her children, Denise (Tilley) Morgan and Dwayne Tilley; her daughter-in-law, Toni Tilley; her grandchildren, Chris Dorr and wife Brie; Dustin Dorr and wife Sarah; Lindsay (Gragg) Dockins and husband Aaron; Aaron Benson and wife Linda; Matthew Tilley; Trisha (Tilley) O'Donoghue and husband Dan; Mallory (Morgan) Fenton and husband Matt; and Landon Morgan; her 11 great-grandchildren, as well as other relatives. Viewing will be from 9am-8pm Friday, March 27th at Smith and Kernke Funeral Home, 14624 North May Ave. Family will be present for viewing from 6-8pm. A service to celebrate her life will be held at the same Smith and Kernke location at 11:00am on Saturday, March 28th with burial to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.