Monette- Royal Newton Tilley, 81, passed away Wednesday, August 10, 2022 at NEA Baptist Hospital.

He was born June 27, 1941 in Big Flat to the late Hugh and Vernie Sutterfield Tilley.  He was the oldest of five children. Royal served his country proudly in the United States Army Reserve. He retired after thirty-two years from Emerson Electric. He was a member of the Monette First Baptist Church and a member of the Buffalo Island Museum, where he loved to share stories of the area.

He is survived by two daughters, Lisa Tilley Cornish (Brady) of Leachville and Kara Tilley Bates (Jerry) of Jonesboro; six grandchildren, Lauren Nelson (Hunter), Weston Taylor, Landon Royal Bates, Amber Shepherd (Levi), Kyla Bates and Christina Bates; great-grandchildren, Magnolia Caroline Nelson, Silas Shephard and Kenadee Shepherd; siblings, Richard Tilley of Cherokee Village, Charles Tilley (Ellie) of Mountain Home and Wanda Tilley Webb (David) of Bay.

He was also preceded in death by his wife, Jill Smith Tilley; two granddaughters, Caroline Taylor and Kelsey Tilley and a sister, Winona Tilley Pinner.

A celebration of his life will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, August 15, 2022 at Gregg Funeral Home with Jerry "Chub" Qualls officiating. Interment will follow at Caraway Cemetery.

The visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until time of service Monday at the funeral home.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are Hunter Nelson, Brady Cornish, Phillip Duffel, Michael McFarlin, Levi Shepherd and Curtis Taylor and honorary pallbearers, Franklin Smithee, Leroy Smithee, W.T. Bibb and Robert Chambers.

Lasting memorials may be sent to St. Jude Children's Hospital.