Obituary for Frances Wilder Tilton
Frances Wilder Tilton left her Earthly home and family to go to Heaven on Sunday, July 26, 2020. She was born in Panama City, Florida to her parents, Alvin Perry Wilder and Juanita Lucile Denison Wilder, on January 2, 1937. Frances and family moved to Chattahoochee, FL and later moved to Palatka, FL in 1948 where she grew up on a chicken farm where her daddy also ran a sawmill and had a woodworking shop. She lived the remainder of her life in East Palatka, FL with her husband Woody Tilton Jr. Frances was preceded in death by both of her parents; her first husband Irving Edward Earls, who died in a work-related accident; her husband of 57 years, Woody Tilton Jr.; two brothers, Hubert Wilder and Max Wilder; and one sister, Helen Wilder Holloway.
Frances had the honor of being the Homecoming Queen in 1955 and graduated the same year. She was well-loved by all and had many friends that she stayed in close contact with throughout her life, and she looked forward to seeing them at every class reunion. In high school, Frances was quite the practical joker and would not miss an opportunity to laugh or have fun.
After high school, Frances married Irving Earls and had her first daughter, Teri. Following Irving’s tragic death, Frances married Woody Tilton with whom she had two more daughters, Julie and Gina. Woody considered Frances to be the backbone of the family and always credited her for being instrumental in helping him raise cattle, timber, and their 3 daughters, who adored her. He always affectionately called her his Homecoming Queen. She helped Woody on the ranch with everything including driving tractors, herding cattle, baling hay, keeping the books, and bottle-feeding numerous motherless calves. Frances was a wonderful mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and aunt. You will often hear her referred to her as Grani or Aunt Frances, even by people that aren’t related to her. Throughout the years, she was very supportive of her children and grandchildren and their extracurricular activities. Frances attended as many rodeos, ball games, plays, concerts, and other activities as she could, sometimes, more than one a day! Frances always put her family and their needs before herself, and you could not find a better wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, or friend.
She was very active in her church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and held various positions there throughout the years including the girls church softball coach. Frances was well-known for her compassionate service to others throughout her life. If she knew a family was not able to have Christmas or needed clothing or food, Frances made sure the needs of that family were met. She also had a huge heart for all animals, especially cats, having been a cat mom to over a hundred cats in her life and numerous other types of animals including turkeys, racoons, goats, chickens, squirrels, rabbits, horses, cows, sheep, and more. Although she loved animals, she was terrified of all creepy crawly critters, and you could hear her scream if she spotted one. Frances was very talented. She was a gifted seamstress and made many of her family’s clothing, bedding, curtains, and baby blankets. Her artistic abilities included ceramics and painting. Frances left numerous beautiful oil paintings for her children and grandchildren. Her paintings have won many awards, and some are hanging on the walls of people’s homes, businesses, and at the University of Utah. Frances had a passion for cooking, cleaning, and taking care of people. She would not allow anyone to leave her house hungry and welcomed everyone no matter what. Her house was inviting and always immaculate. Her wisdom went far beyond keeping house, raising children, and helping on the ranch. Since Frances was extremely compassionate and empathetic, she was called on often by friends and family for advice and encouragement and always had a listening ear. She will be deeply missed by all those who knew and loved her.
Frances is survived by her sister, Merle Wilder Silcox; her daughters Teri Love, Julie Glisson (Mike), and Gina Counts (Johnny); her grandchildren Misti Woods (Travis), Matt Buckles (Casey), Justin Slaughter (Tabitha), Mindi Buckles, Dusti Slaughter, Jody Counts, Cheyann Smith (Ryan), Jett Counts, and Casi Counts; along with 18 great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and other special people she considered to be a part of her family.
Graveside services will be at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, August 1, 2020 at San Mateo Cemetery with Bishop Jay Tilton conducting. No visitation is scheduled.
Due to the Covid 19 virus, all attending will need to wear a mask and practice social distancing.
Flowers are gratefully accepted or memorial donations may be sent to S.A.F.E. Pet Rescue of Putnam County, P.O. Box 188, Hollister, FL 32147.
Memories and condolences may be expressed to the family at Frances’s Book of Memories page at www.johnsonoverturffunerals.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Johnson-Overturf Funeral Home in Palatka.
Frances had the honor of being the Homecoming Queen in 1955 and graduated the same year. She was well-loved by all and had many friends that she stayed in close contact with throughout her life, and she looked forward to seeing them at every class reunion. In high school, Frances was quite the practical joker and would not miss an opportunity to laugh or have fun.
After high school, Frances married Irving Earls and had her first daughter, Teri. Following Irving’s tragic death, Frances married Woody Tilton with whom she had two more daughters, Julie and Gina. Woody considered Frances to be the backbone of the family and always credited her for being instrumental in helping him raise cattle, timber, and their 3 daughters, who adored her. He always affectionately called her his Homecoming Queen. She helped Woody on the ranch with everything including driving tractors, herding cattle, baling hay, keeping the books, and bottle-feeding numerous motherless calves. Frances was a wonderful mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and aunt. You will often hear her referred to her as Grani or Aunt Frances, even by people that aren’t related to her. Throughout the years, she was very supportive of her children and grandchildren and their extracurricular activities. Frances attended as many rodeos, ball games, plays, concerts, and other activities as she could, sometimes, more than one a day! Frances always put her family and their needs before herself, and you could not find a better wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, or friend.
She was very active in her church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and held various positions there throughout the years including the girls church softball coach. Frances was well-known for her compassionate service to others throughout her life. If she knew a family was not able to have Christmas or needed clothing or food, Frances made sure the needs of that family were met. She also had a huge heart for all animals, especially cats, having been a cat mom to over a hundred cats in her life and numerous other types of animals including turkeys, racoons, goats, chickens, squirrels, rabbits, horses, cows, sheep, and more. Although she loved animals, she was terrified of all creepy crawly critters, and you could hear her scream if she spotted one. Frances was very talented. She was a gifted seamstress and made many of her family’s clothing, bedding, curtains, and baby blankets. Her artistic abilities included ceramics and painting. Frances left numerous beautiful oil paintings for her children and grandchildren. Her paintings have won many awards, and some are hanging on the walls of people’s homes, businesses, and at the University of Utah. Frances had a passion for cooking, cleaning, and taking care of people. She would not allow anyone to leave her house hungry and welcomed everyone no matter what. Her house was inviting and always immaculate. Her wisdom went far beyond keeping house, raising children, and helping on the ranch. Since Frances was extremely compassionate and empathetic, she was called on often by friends and family for advice and encouragement and always had a listening ear. She will be deeply missed by all those who knew and loved her.
Frances is survived by her sister, Merle Wilder Silcox; her daughters Teri Love, Julie Glisson (Mike), and Gina Counts (Johnny); her grandchildren Misti Woods (Travis), Matt Buckles (Casey), Justin Slaughter (Tabitha), Mindi Buckles, Dusti Slaughter, Jody Counts, Cheyann Smith (Ryan), Jett Counts, and Casi Counts; along with 18 great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and other special people she considered to be a part of her family.
Graveside services will be at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, August 1, 2020 at San Mateo Cemetery with Bishop Jay Tilton conducting. No visitation is scheduled.
Due to the Covid 19 virus, all attending will need to wear a mask and practice social distancing.
Flowers are gratefully accepted or memorial donations may be sent to S.A.F.E. Pet Rescue of Putnam County, P.O. Box 188, Hollister, FL 32147.
Memories and condolences may be expressed to the family at Frances’s Book of Memories page at www.johnsonoverturffunerals.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Johnson-Overturf Funeral Home in Palatka.