Lilly LaVaughn Tilton

On January 8, 2021, Lilly LaVaughn Cox Bray Tilton Drysdale passed away peacefully in Stuart, Florida under the care of Hospice of the Treasure Coast. LaVaughn was raised on a farm by her grandmother in Maries County, Missouri where the Cox family was established for hundreds of years. LaVaughn was always grateful they were self-sufficient during the great depression, recalling sharing food with needy travelers that came to their door.

LaVaughn graduated high school in 1941 at the age of 16. She married Albert (Pete) Bray in 1942. Accompanying Pete during his WWII service, she worked as a seamstress on base. After the war, they settled in St. Ann, Missouri with their two children, Susan and Joyce. Pete worked as a prison guard and LaVaughn was a secretary at the state capital. The family moved to Jensen Beach, Florida in 1963 where they purchased Sun ‘N Palms Cottages. Pete died two years later and LaVaughn remarried Ransom R. Tilton, real estate developer, in 1966. She adopted his three children, Randy, Ren, and Robin to become a mother of five. They enjoyed attending banquets and parties, boating on the St. Lucie River and playing tennis. Widowed a second time, she remarried Roland Drysdale in 2003 at the age of 78. Again her generous heart took in Roland’s son, Scott, and his grandchildren, Doug and Christi. She and Roland enjoyed traveling and playing tennis. Eight years later, she was widowed a final time. Her courage and steadfast determination seeing her through, she enjoyed her final years at Sandhill Cove in Palm City where she attended social events and loved the view of the St. Lucie River.

She was most proud of being a hero for children, LaVaughn founded Hibiscus Children’s Center in 1985, the year her first grandchild was born. The center has been saving abused and neglected children for 35 years. There is no imaginable way to measure the thousands of children’s lives that LaVaughn has touched.

LaVaughn is survived by her children, Susan and Joyce, her grandchildren, Daniel and Alaina, and great-grandchildren, Blaire, Charlie, and Beckett. Tilton surviving children Ren and Robin, grandchildren Amanda, Stephanie, and Randy, great-grandchildren Connor and Jacob. Drysdale surviving grandchildren, Doug and Christi, great-grandchildren Sandy, Colby, and Aiden.

She will be remembered by many and deeply missed.