Betty Lou Tiller

After an extended and cruel battle with dementia, Betty Lou (Noland) Tiller departed this life on July 31, 2024, while at her home in Chester, VA. She has gone on to live eternal life with her Lord and savior, and her loved ones who passed on before her.

Betty was born at home, in the mountains of Sevier County, TN, on January 27, 1936, to Wiley C. Noland and Lettie "Edith" Myers. She was predeceased by both her parents; and siblings, her beloved twin, James Reed Noland ("J.R."); sister, Ruby Nell Noland Howard; infant sister, Iva Lee Noland; and her brothers, Carl Noland, Everette Noland (Lillard), and Virgil Noland (Lucille). She is survived by one sister, Nina Ruth Noland Manning (Lawrence), of Sevierville, TN.

Betty is also survived by her devoted husband, Graham Kennedy ("Ken") Tiller, of Chester; her daughters, Amanda McFarland (Bill, and his son, Jeremy), of Chesterfield, Laura Elaine Tiller (Dabney "Dee" Watts), of Chester; and grandson, Graham Hutson Jennings and his wife, Sabrina, of Richmond. She is survived by special friends, Erma Wampler, of Abingdon, VA, and Louise Compton, of Graham's Forge and Radford, VA. Betty leaves behind her special cat, Kitten Kaboodle, also known as "Puffcat."

Betty graduated from Pittman Center High School in Gatlinburg, TN, in 1954, in a class of 19 students. She was a basketball standout, being named the district MVP two years in a row. Betty had a love for basketball like no other sport. Without store bought toys, Betty and her sisters learned to play basketball with hours of practice on hard clay soil, with a circular wire for a hoop on the side of a barn. Growing up as a farmer's daughter also meant hanging tobacco, milking cows, and doing whatever it took to help her family survive, such as weaving handmade tourist items for Gatlinburg shops. Betty was very proud of her Appalachian heritage, she never tried to lose an ounce of her perfect accent. Most importantly, she never forgot the tough lessons she learned as the child of a struggling farmer. After graduating from Pittman Center, Betty attended East Tennessee State University, where she met Louise Compton while waiting in line to register for classes. This would prove to be a fateful encounter. Louise and Betty decided they might as well be roommates, since they didn't have anyone assigned, and they proceeded to live in Carter Hall. Soon after, Louise introduced Betty to her dashing first cousin, Ken Tiller, who hailed from Dickenson County, VA. She was immediately smitten, captivated by his bright blue eyes, a courtship ensued. Betty left ETSU to return to Gatlinburg to waitress in order to make enough money for another term's tuition. While she was away, she wrote Louise faithfully (Louise saved the letters), inquiring about her handsome cousin Ken. Betty returned to ETSU, and she and Ken's courtship continued. A few months later, the two eloped to nearby Elizabethton, TN, in October of 1955. Betty and Ken would have celebrated their 69th anniversary this October.

The Tillers lived in Russell and Washington County, Virginia, also Ohio, Tennessee, North Carolina, New Mexico, and Arizona, before settling in Hopewell in the fall of 1971, where they remained for 33 years, before moving to beautiful downtown Chester, VA, in 2004. Betty's career included teaching in both Russell County, VA, and Buncombe County, NC. She worked as a homemaker and in various other capacities before landing her first position at Allied Chemical as a keypunch operator in 1973. With an interest in computers, Betty took some programming courses at John Tyler Community College and applied for a programming position at Allied. Betty quickly became a crackerjack programmer with an eye for detail, and a dedication to succeed. She continued her career with Allied/Honeywell until her retirement in 1999. As a system's analyst, Betty wrote the accounts payable system used at Honeywell's Polymers division.

Betty's first love was family, and her second love was nature. She enjoyed nothing more than admiring her beautiful flowers that she and God created and cared for with great pride. She and Ken traveled extensively in their retirement years, even up until their early 80s, visiting most of the US states, Canada, Mexico, and Europe. They traveled with their great friends, Gene and Erma Wampler, of Abingdon, and Ken's cousin and most-excellent matchmaker, Louise Compton, and her husband, James. They enjoyed these trips immensely, seeing many of the national parks, and an "occasional casino." Of course Betty only went to the casinos to keep the rest of the travelers out of trouble, and of course, to enjoy the "free" buffets - she always exclaimed "I don't have to cook! While Betty had dined in many fine restaurants, and enjoyed many a lavish "comped meal," she loved nothing more than home cooked country food. Betty wasn't a precise cook, but her cooking tasted exactly right to her family, especially her world famous cornbread, pinto beans, and onions.

Betty helped care for her grandson for many hours even after a long day's work, especially in his very early years while his Mom worked. She was the first to succeed at getting her Graham to eat baby peas and green beans. She dressed him in plaid pants, socks and sandals, and always let him win at cards.

Betty had boundless energy. Even years after her disease had progressed, she never wanted to sit idle. She was up and walking every minute she was able (and even when she wasn't), looking for something to do around the house. We are convinced that if the dementia hadn't gotten her, she would have lived to be a hundred. She was the solid heart of her family. She gave the best advice. She loved unconditionally, and everyone who knew her, loved her back. She saved all her family members from many various perils and poor decisions, the most impactful of which was teaching them to "SAVE, SAVE, SAVE!," to work hard, and to never waste or take anything for granted ("Waste not, want not!"). Betty will never be forgotten, and there will never be another like her. She is in her eternal life now, perfect and without pain or fear.

From Ken, Amanda, and Elaine:
A special thanks to our caregivers who spent countless hours tending to Mother's needs. These are special, talented, tireless women, who often went above and beyond the call of duty to keep our Mom happy and comfortable. Candace, Shemika, Linda, Sharriann, Heidi, and Ashley (and others before you) - we will never forget all you did for us, we could have never made it without you.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., on Thursday, August 8, 2024, in the sanctuary at Chester Baptist Church. Interment will be held at a later date at Forest Hill Memory Gardens in Abingdon, VA.