Maralee P. Tyler Tilton

Maralee was a founder and Charter member of St. Matthew United Methodist Church, member of the Christian Mates Class and senior group at the church. Past President of the Mothers Club of Dist. 175 (Harmony, Emge and Ellis schools), past member of Belleville Women’s Club, also reunion committee member of East St. Louis High School Class of 1948. She was an insurance secretary many years, later retiring as a receptionist at St. Mathew United Methodist Church.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth F. Tyler (June 21, 1961) and Madelyn Tyler-Gindler, nee Hulick (December 29, 2000); and husband, Verlan A. Juenger (February 3, 1988).

Surviving are her husband, James A. Tilton; children, Terry Lynn (James) Baker, Tyler S. (Melissa Carter) Vogel; step-daughter, Judy (Bill) Thomas; step-son, Jeffrey (Karen) Tilton; grandchildren, Jason (Courtney) Baker, Brooke Baker, Daniel Baker, Megan Baker, Kenneth Baker; step-grandchildren, Sarah (Randy) Allen, Lauren Thomas and Clay Tilton; a great grandson, Dylan Wilkens; long friends, JoAnn Crow, Clara Lineberry, and Shirley Wilkelmeyer.

Safely Home

I am home in Heaven, dear ones; oh, so happy and so bright!

There is perfect joy and beauty in this everlasting light.

All the pain and grief is over, every restless tossing passed;

I am now at peace forever, safely home in Heaven at last.

Did you wonder I so calmly trod the valley of the shade?

Oh! But Jesus’ love illumined every dark and fearful glade.

And He came Himself to meet me in that way so hard to tread;

And with Jesus’ arm to lean on, could I have one doubt or dread?

Then you must not grieve so sorely, for I love you dearly still:

Try to look beyond earth’s shadows, pray to trust our Father’s Will.

There is work still waiting for you, so you must not idly stand;

Do it now, while life remaineth- you shall rest in Jesus’ land.

When that work is all completed, he will gently call you Home;

Oh, the rapture of that meeting, oh, the joy to see you come!

Condolences maybe expressed online at www.valhallagardensandfuneralhome.com

Memorial Contributions may be made to St. Matthew United Methodist Church, 1200 Moreland Drive, Belleville, Illinois 62223.

Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m., Thursday, December 9, 2010 at Valhalla Gaerdner Holten Funeral Home, 3412 Frank Scott Parkway West, Belleville, Illinois 62223.

Funeral Service: Funeral Service will be held 10 a.m., Friday, December 10, 2010 at Valhalla Gaerdner Holten Funeral Home, Belleville, Illinois with Pastor James Slone officiating. Interment following at Valhalla Gardens of Memory, Belleville, Illinois.

Valhalla Gaerdner Holten Funeral Home, Belleville, Ill.