Sandy Tillery

Ronald Justin 'Sandy' Tillery, 71 of Stratford, passed away on Saturday, June 17, 2017. Funeral Services are scheduled for 10 o'clock in the morning on Tuesday, June 20, 2017 at First United Methodist Church, with Rev. Steve Ulrey, officiating. Interment will follow at Stratford Cemetery. Arrangements are entrusted to Morrison Funeral Directors of Stratford. Sandy was born in Amarillo, Texas in 1946, to H.R. (Rex) and Mozelle (Brannon) Tillery. He attended school in Stratford and graduated in 1964 before attending Clarendon Junior College and then enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1966. Tillery served tours of duty in Ft. Hood Texas, Schofield Barricks in Hawaii, and in Vietnam with the 11th Brigade. In 1969, he was awarded the Bronze Star for Meritorious Achievement in Ground Operations against Hostile Forces. While in the Army, he served as Military Police with rank of Sargent. After serving his country, Sandy returned to family, friends and home in Sherman County. He worked on the farm with his dad and brothers and later farmed on Dyess land south of town. After the farms were sold off, he worked for several area businesses, all in the agriculture field. He continued truck driving though the 2016 harvest. As with most farm grown kids, Sandy was a jack-of-all-trades and loved to share his knowledge with friends, kids and grandkids. He was a lifetime member of the First United Methodist Church of Stratford. Sandy was a Past Master of the Masonic Lodge #874. He was an avid supporter of the Stratford Elks and in 2011 he proudly accepted the Fan of the Year Award from Stratford High School. He has also served as Sherman County Commissioner. He married his high school sweetheart, Ellen Dyess in Stratford on June 12, 1965. Ellen and Sandy raised three daughters. He took great pride in all the accomplishments of his kids but was especially proud of his grandkids and their athletic accolades. The Tillerys were also blessed with lifelong friends who, in younger days, spent time together on the lake and the ski slopes and in later years traveled and shared stories at coffee shop. Sandy also loved his faithful dog Chrissy. He was preceded in death by his parents, Rex and Mozelle Tillery; a brother: Greg Tillery and granddaughter: Taylor Dyess Bowman. Sandy is survived by his wife of 52 years; his daughters: Roxan Bowman and husband Cody of Ballinger, Trisha Keener and husband Mark, and Kendra Mungia and husband Bryan all of Stratford. He is also survived by grandkids: Ashley, Kyler, Klinton, Kelsie, Justin, Reed, Sterling, Kaylee, Rett, Madison, Sydney, and Rese. His great grandkids are Braylee, Ross, Kaebren, Kayzlee, Rem, Hudson, and Hayes. He was anticipating the birth of great grandchild number 8, Fitz, due in July. Sandy is also survived by two brothers: Terri Tillery and Dexter Tillery. The family suggests with gratitude memorials be made to the Taylor Dyess Bowman Memorial Scholarship, First National Bank of Ballinger, 911 Hutchings, Ballinger Texas 76821 or the First United Methodist Church of Stratford, 611 N Main, Stratford, TX 79084.