Bill Edmond Tolley

Bill Edmond Tolley, 89, of Litchfield, passed away on Saturday, April 1, 2023, at Heritage Health Senior Care in Litchfield.

Bill was born on April 9, 1933 in Hamilton County, Illinois, near Middle Creek, the youngest child of Vernie Vinson and Edna Nola (Erwin) Tolley. He married Barbara Coralyn Barker on October 27, 1951 at the Methodist church in Dale, Illinois. They were married 69 years prior to Barbara’s passing on January 17, 2021.

Bill is survived by his children, Carolyn (Howard) Nimmons of Florissant, MO, Loralea (David) Liss of Argenta, and Teresa (David) Fields of Channahon; five grandchildren, Joseph (Amanda) Nimmons, Matthew (Tiffany) Nimmons, Lauren (Tyler) Marsh, Elise Hocking and Sam (Nichole) Liss. He is also survived by seven great-grandchildren, Brandon, Connor, Mallory, Brody, Gabrielle, Jacqueline, and Charlie Kaye. In addition, he is survived by his sister, Ida Lue Greer Wilson; sister-in-law, Edith Robinson; nephew, Dan (Betsy) Greer; niece, Beth (Ron) Kennon; great-nephew, Jesse Dale; and special friends, Dennis (Kathie) Hill and Shaun (Becky) Patrick.

Bill was preceded in death by his brother, Cecil Lee; sister, Verma Dell Hensley; great-grandson, Drew; nieces, Mary and Rosanna; and many dear friends.

Bill graduated from McLeansboro High School in 1950, where he was a standout athlete in basketball and baseball. He, Barbara and Carolyn moved from Dale to Litchfield in 1960 when he was hired to establish and manage the Litchfield Aylco Chemical Company store. Kaiser Agricultural Chemical Company bought the company in 1963. The company changed hands several times with Bill being retained at each transition. He finished his career with IMC AgriBusiness as the marketing manager of specialty products. He very much enjoyed his work and the people he worked with. He earned retirement in 1999.

Bill was a faithful member of St. Timothy United Methodist Church in Litchfield. He was proud to have been a Sunday School teacher for nearly sixty years. He began his long tenure at St. Timothy teaching the 9th grade Sunday School class. He was then asked to start a class for young adults, the Builders, and he led that class for over fifty years. He loved his Builders, along with all of his St. Timothy church family.

Bill enjoyed a great round of golf, a great game of pinochle, and a great joke. He was a lousy magician, but an awesome story teller. He was an avid vegetable gardener and shared his bounty with grateful family, friends and neighbors. He had a gift for making new friends throughout his long life and he cherished all of the old ones. He loved to sit on the sunporch and listen to Cardinals baseball, old-time gospel music, and the rain. Many will remember Bill on his riding mower, smoking his pipe. He and Barbara cut quite a rug dancing on Saturday nights with the gang. He was a member of the Elks Lodge and enjoyed volunteering with Meals on Wheels and the Litchfield food pantry. He was a devoted caregiver to Barbara in her later years.

Bill was a loving husband, cherished father, granddad and uncle, faithful brother and loyal friend. He will be sorely missed. The family would like to thank the staff at Evergreen Place Supportive Living and Heritage Health Senior Care for their loving care of Dad. The family requests memorials to St. Timothy United Methodist Church.

Funeral services for Bill will be held on Thursday, April 6, 2023, at noon at St. Timothy United Methodist Church in Litchfield. Rev. Dennis Hill will preside with Rev. John Vidakovich and Rev. Judy Vidakovich co-officiating. Burial will be in Elm Wood Cemetery in Litchfield. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.

Mr. Tolley's service will be livestreamed at https://www.facebook.com/St.Tims4Him?mibextid=LQQJ4d

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.