Mary Kathryn Tilma

Mary K. Tilma, age 94, of Kalamazoo, succumbed to COVID-19 Thursday, October 28, 2021 at Ascension Borgess Hospital. The family is greatly appreciative for the care Mary received from the healthcare staff and especially her dedicated nurses. Mary was born July 15, 1927 in Grand Rapids, the daughter of Herman and Kathryn (Snook) Davey. She was a 1945 graduate of Creston High School in Grand Rapids. She graduated from Blodgett School of Nursing and cared for babies in the NICU before starting her own family. On June 2, 1950 in Grand Rapids Mary was united in marriage to Robert Lewis Tilma and together they raised three sons in Parchment where she was active in Grand Prairie golf league, bridge clubs, book clubs, and Parchment Garden Club. She was a long-time volunteer at Borgess Hospital, working in the gift shop into her 90’s. Mary and her husband were also active with the Parchment Little League, Parchment Trotters travel club and strong patrons of the Parchment Library. She and her brother David shared their love of fishing with their grandchildren during many joint holidays at Bostwick Lake. Mary and husband Bob enjoyed many happy days in Conway, SC, with their son Tim and his family and friends. Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; sister, Beverly Hoekstra; brother, David Davey; brother-in-law, Ronald E. Tilma. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Alice Davey of Grand Rapids; sons, Matthew Tilma of Kalamazoo, Timothy (Deborah Anderson) Tilma of Conway, SC, Andrew (Kim) Tilma of Kalamazoo; granddaughters, Allison Tilma, Kelley (Patrick) Higgins, Caroline (Brendan) Nagle, Mary Kathryn (Pierce) Lawrence; great-grandchildren, Elaina Craft, Truman Nagle and Theodore Higgins. She is also survived by many doting nieces and nephews and their children whom she loved deeply. She also had a special place in her heart for friend and neighbor, Ann Shields. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Interment will be in Ft. Custer National Cemetery alongside her husband, Robert Tilma. Memorial contributions may be made to the Parchment Library or the Parchment Garden Club. www.redmondfuneralhomes.net