Fred Hunter Tillman, 74, of Silver City, NM

Category: Obituaries Obituaries
Published: 14 November 2015 14 November 2015

Fred Tillman RSFred Hunter Tillman, 74, of Silver City, died peacefully and in no pain at home on Nov. 13, 2015, after a short battle with cancer. A Memorial Service will be held at the First United Methodist Church on Thursday, Nov. 19, at 10:30 a.m. Inurnment will be by family members.

Fred was born in 1941 to Francis Tede and Fred Tillman in La Mesa, N.M. As a child he grew up on the family farm in La Mesa and graduated from high school in Anthony, N.M. Fred then moved to Silver City to go to college. He always told the story about how $100 paid for his tuition and books.

Fred worked at the Silver City Daily Press while he attended Western New Mexico University. He graduated with a teaching degree in 1967 and started teaching at Cobre High School in Bayard shortly afterward. Fred was an industrial arts teacher and taught many area kids how to work on engines, weld, build and draft. He also drove a school bus and drove buses for firefighters. He returned to WNMU to earn a master ¹s degree.

Fred had many hobbies but he mostly loved his motorcycles, when he was a younger man, and his NASCAR as he got older. He was always a gun enthusiast and enjoyed hunting and cowboy action shooting.

Fred enjoyed living near the Gila National Forest and considered it his backyard.

He was a Mason and a past Exalted Ruler in the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks.

Fred married Mary Jo McGee on New Year ¹s Eve 1977. They blended their families and had 38 wonderful years together. They were each other's best friends ever since.

Fred and Mary Jo loved camping with their friends and were members of the Gila Travelers RV club.

Fred was preceded in death by his mother and father; sister, Lois; and daughter, Patricia.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Jo; daughters, April Cayot (Lon) of Rapid City, S.D., and Lois Cooper of Rio Rico, Ariz.; stepdaughter, Jeanne McGee of Las Vegas, N.M.; stepson, Michael Mindon McGee of Silver City; sister, Fran Henry (Al) of Las Vegas, Nev.; brother, Raymond Tillman (Marlene) of Sherman, Texas; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers donations to the Gila Regional Medical Center Auxiliary Cancer Lunch Program, 1313 E. 32nd St., Silver City, NM 88061 are requested.

Bright Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements, "Traditional Services and Care for Your Family and Friends," 210 W. College Ave., Silver City. Phone 575-388-1911. To send condolences login to www.brightfuneral.net.

Content on the Beat

WARNING: All articles and photos with a byline or photo credit are copyrighted to the author or photographer. You may not use any information found within the articles without asking permission AND giving attribution to the source. Photos can be requested and may incur a nominal fee for use personally or commercially.

Disclaimer: If you find errors in articles not written by the Beat team but sent to us from other content providers, please contact the writer, not the Beat. For example, obituaries are always provided by the funeral home or a family member. We can fix errors, but please give details on where the error is so we can find it. News releases from government and non-profit entities are posted generally without change, except for legal notices, which incur a small charge.

NOTE: If an article does not have a byline, it was written by someone not affiliated with the Beat and then sent to the Beat for posting.

Images: We have received complaints about large images blocking parts of other articles. If you encounter this problem, click on the title of the article you want to read and it will take you to that article's page, which shows only that article without any intruders. 

New Columnists: The Beat continues to bring you new columnists. And check out the old faithfuls who continue to provide content.

Newsletter: If you opt in to the Join GCB Three Times Weekly Updates option above this to the right, you will be subscribed to email notifications with links to recently posted articles.

Submitting to the Beat

Those new to providing news releases to the Beat are asked to please check out submission guidelines at https://www.grantcountybeat.com/about/submissions. They are for your information to make life easier on the readers, as well as for the editor.

Advertising: Don't forget to tell advertisers that you saw their ads on the Beat.

Classifieds: We have changed Classifieds to a simpler option. Check periodically to see if any new ones have popped up. Send your information to editor@grantcountybeat.com and we will post it as soon as we can. Instructions and prices are on the page.

Editor's Notes

It has come to this editor's attention that people are sending information to the Grant County Beat Facebook page. Please be aware that the editor does not regularly monitor the page. If you have items you want to send to the editor, please send them to editor@grantcountybeat.com. Thanks!

Here for YOU: Consider the Beat your DAILY newspaper for up-to-date information about Grant County. It's at your fingertips! One Click to Local News. Thanks for your support for and your readership of Grant County's online news source—www.grantcountybeat.com

Feel free to notify editor@grantcountybeat.com if you notice any technical problems on the site. Your convenience is my desire for the Beat.  The Beat totally appreciates its readers and subscribers!  

Compliance: Because you are an esteemed member of The Grant County Beat readership, be assured that we at the Beat continue to do everything we can to be in full compliance with GDPR and pertinent US law, so that the information you have chosen to give to us cannot be compromised.