Strong in faith and prepared for eternal life, Doris Maurine Tillett, age 93 passed into heaven at home on February 10, 2018. She was an extraordinary Mother, spouse, sibling, and very special human being. With her steadfast belief in God’s eternal grace, Maurine released her earthly cherished presence and passed into God’s loving arms joining her husband, Clarence Tillett, Jr. She was born in Mantua, Texas in rural Collin County on May 13, 1924 to James Oral (J.O.) Wallace and Johnnie Bass Wallace.

Maurine’s parents were farmers and she lived her early years in the cotton fields of Texas. Born just prior to the great depression, the family experienced financial hardships. She spent her days, even as an infant, playing on the cook shack floor and later working in the fields herself to help provide for the family’s needs. Maurine graduated from Gunter High School in 1941. She met her lifelong sweetheart, Clarence Tillett, Jr., prior to graduation and married him on September 24, 1941. Clarence (Jr.) joined the Army shortly after their marriage and was deployed to Europe to defend the country in WWII. Upon his return in 1945 they settled in Whitewright, Texas to raise their five children. Whitewright was their home and a steadfast base for their family for the rest of their lives. Maurine and Jr. owned and operated a local grocery store until 1959. After closing the store, she sought employment with Johnson and Johnson in Sherman, Texas and she retired from the company in the early 90’s after 30 years of service. Maurine was a member of the First Baptist Church in Whitewright and taught Sunday School in the children’s department for many years. She supported her husband in his roles as a deacon of the church and Mayor of the community. She was a loyal fan of her children’s school activities and participated when possible. Maurine loved to bake and she leaves a legacy of love through the sharing of her sought after baked goods and the sharing of her faith in Jesus Christ. She was devoted to her children and their families and was a “mighty prayer warrior” for all of them.

She is survived by her sons, Bill R. Tillett and wife Susan of Miami, Florida, Curtis D. Tillett and wife Karun of Springfield, Illinois, and Gary L. Tillett and wife Debbie of Tampa, Florida; daughters, Doris Sparks and husband Gene of Fairview, Texas and Carolyn Crispin of Branson, Missouri; grandchildren, Ashley Tillett, Heather Stenstrom, Emily Tharp, Bill Sparks, Amy Williams, Leslie Tillett, Kim Tillett-Poole, Angela Gore, Kevin Spann, Jamie Craig, Jenna Page, Brad Tillett and Erin Tillett; 22 great-grandchildren; sister, Dorothy Fleming of Sherman; numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, J.O. and Johnnie Wallace; husband, Clarence Tillett, Jr.; brother, Raymond O. Wallace; and sister, Mildred James.

Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, February 21, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church, Whitewright, Texas. Officiating the service will be Rev. Rodney Stanford and Rev. Dave Bradley. Pallbearers will be Bill Sparks, Kevin Spann, Brad Tillett, Jackson Sparks, Daulton Nibbe and Dalton Gore. Honorary Pallbearers will be Dwain James, Robert James, Jerry James, Bob Fleming and Robert Wallace. The family will receive friends during a visitation prior to the service at 10:00 a.m. at the church. Burial will follow service at Van Alstyne Cemetery, Van Alstyne, Texas.

Memorials may be made to Meals on Wheels in Whitewright, Texas @www.mowot.org, MD Anderson Cancer Center (leukemia and lymphoma) @gifts.mdanderson.org, First Baptist Church of Whitewright @www.fbcwhitewright.com/online-giving, Global Heart Ministries @globalheartministries.org/donate and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association @billygraham.org/give/give-online.