Lila Maire Tilley, 97, passed away on Jan. 13, 2024, at the Aspens Living Center. 

Lila was born May 1, 1926, to Harold and Nola Delaney in Barber, Idaho. The family moved to Burns when she was five years old. Lila and her siblings grew up in poverty. She loved to tell a story about how one winter they did not have any meat to eat, and the neighbors happened to have a recently butchered beef hanging at their house.  Lila and her siblings each grabbed knives and snuck over to help themselves to whatever scraps they could cut off before the neighbor stepped outside again.

Lila graduated from Burns Union High School in 1942. She later married Harold Wenick and welcomed three children into their family, Randy, Candy, and Lindsey. Lila and Harold were married for 13 years.

In 1959, Lila married the love of her life, Larry Tilley. Lila and Larry moved to the Sod House near the present day Malheur Wildlife Refuge and together they welcomed another child into their family, Toni.

In 1960 they moved back to Burns, where Larry began working for the Edward Hines Lumber Company. Lila worked at The Palace for Maise and Orlin Osborn for 10 years. Lila and Larry then bought the Hines Commissary at the Edward Hines Lumber Company, which they operated until the mill’s closure in 1980. Lila then was hired at US Bank, where she worked until retiring at 72 years old. 

When Lila turned 80 years old she had one of the biggest parties that the Elks Lodge may have ever seen with so many people traveling to share in their love for Lila; a true testament to the amount of people Lila has touched in her life.

Lila was a great supporter of her kids and grandkids sports and extra activities. She would travel many miles to watch her grandkids throughout the state. Her grandkids often joked with her that, “She was going to the home”. But in reality she was as sharp as a tack for many years living independently until she was 94 years old. 

She loved sitting on her porch with all her wind chimes catching up with family and friends. Friends will remember her for her fun personality, her ability to gracefully host large parties, and for the love she had for those closest to her. 

Lila is survived by her daughter, Candy Calkins; son, Lindsey (Wanda) Wenick; son-in-law, Pedro Zabala. Her grandchildren: Shannon Pigot, Jacob (Brooke) Hammit, Randi Jo (Chris) Korell, Cash Wenick, Matt (Shannon) Wenick, Melissa (Ryan) Pettyjohn, Amaya (Andy) Adkins, and Mattea (Carraig) Colahan. She had fifteen great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. 

Lila was preceded in death by her mother and father; her siblings; and her son, Randy Wenick; daughter, Toni Zabala; and son-in-law, Curtis Calkins.