Clyde Rickey Tilley

Published 12:00 am Saturday, August 3, 2013

COVINGTON, La. — Clyde Rickey “Rick” Tilley, 59, of Covington, La., died Wednesday, July 24, 2013, at his home after an intense battle with biliary cancer.

His ashes will be scattered from a sailboat at sea.

Mr. Tilley was born Sept. 17, 1953, in Alexandria, La., the son of Clyde “Buddy” Tilley and “Es” Atkinson Tilley of Alexandria.

He was a graduate of Bolton High School and attended Southeastern University at Lafayette, La., and St. Petersburg College in St. Petersburg, Fla., where he majored in creative writing.

Mr. Tilley worked at the St. Petersburg Marina for a number of years. While living in St. Petersburg, he was instrumental in founding Hannah’s Homeless, a shelter to assist the homeless population of the area.

Mr. Tilley was an author, guitar picker and had recently established an inspirational web site, Facebook/Recovery, to send daily messages of encouragement to those recovering from addiction. He was known for his talent as a cook and was an avid reader of science fiction.

Survivors include one sister, Kathy G. Tilley of Natchez and Gulf Breeze, Fla.; and two aunts, Mrs. Ruby Tilley Monroe of Shreveport, La., and Mrs. Jean Speer and husband, John, of Hot Springs Village, Ark.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his honor to Hannah’s Homeless at www.hannahshomeless.org.

Online condolences may be sent to www.ejfieldingfh.com.