Lillian May “Tilly” Updyke, 83, of Oil City, went to be with the Lord September 3, 2014.
Lillian was born October 20, 1930 or “ten-twenty-thirty” as she liked to say. She was the daughter of Lionel Oakes Sr. and Rose Fenstermaker Oakes who made their home out in the country back Martin Hill Road.
Lillian was preceded in death by her husband, George Updyke, her daughter, Annetta Flanary, her sister Golden Fischer, and her brother Lionel (Onie) Oakes.
Surviving are seven children, Clayton Black, Ann Blair, Leland Black III and wife Jessie, all of Oil City. Also Marjorie Reese of Franklin, Dianna Black of New Caney, Texas, Anna Goetsch and husband Shane of Hudson, Iowa, and Joyce Rewerts of Stout, Iowa.
Also surviving are her grandchildren, Tenisha Martin of Reno, Heather Martin of Reno, Athena Lamey and husband of Titusville, Patrick Flanary of Huntington, Texas, Kenneth Flanary and wife of Tomball, Texas, Alicia Boothe and husband of Livingston, Texas. Lance Rewerts of Washington, Joshua Rewerts of Cedar Falls, Iowa, April Blair of Franklin, Sandra Blair of Oil City, Sara Cotherman and her husband, David, of Saegertown, Jessica Ruth and husband of Edinboro, Theodore Crose and Eve Tracy of New Caney, Texas, Missy Knox Shreve and husband of Oil City, Crystal Slagle and husband of Oak Grove, Kentucky, Jennifer Plyler of Clovis, New Mexico, Lee Gordon Black and wife of Chippewa, Roxanne Gilliland and husband of Chicora, Quinn Sibble of Meadville, Leland Black IV, Trinni Black, Tyler Pettit and wife, all of Oil City.
She is also survived by 2 sisters, Helen Stroup of Oil City and Judy Blair of Tionesta, a brother Daniel Oakes and wife Kathy of Oil City, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and 33 great-grandchildren.
Lillian will be remembered as a gentle, loving spirit with a heart for family. She had a way of letting you know your company was cherished. We will all remember her cheerful “there’s always room for one more” and then making it so. If you showed up at her door near suppertime, she would have food magically multiplying in the pans like it was part of the plan all along.
She noticed with her heart when the elderly around her were struggling and usually had someone in the neighborhood to look after regularly, and not for pay. She shuffled them into her day like family. She was quick to lend a helping hand and did not hide from work as her father taught her, “Don’t wait to be asked. When there’s work to be done or you can help someone, do it.”
Occasionally, hobos would find their way to her doorstep hungry. She would immediately stop whatever she was doing to make food for them, and not just a sandwich or leftovers but a full meal, with all the trimmings she could find, plus some to take with, and not just because they were hungry, but also because “They might be angels and the bible says you never know when you might entertain angels unaware. And you don’t know how long they will have to wait to find food again.”
She always hummed cheerfully through her work and was a very good yodeler. Once, a stranger passing by heard Lillian yodeling through the open kitchen window, knocked and pressed her to come yodel for the audience in a musical program in town. She learned to yodel out in the woods alone in a special place where she could hear her voice echo.
Lillian enjoyed cooking, baking, canning, sewing, embroidering, crocheting, hunting, and dancing. She could play most any instrument, piano, organ, accordion, fiddle, juice harp, banjo, guitar, ukelele, or spoons. She sang and played in a country music band for a while. She reminisced fondly of barn dances, polka and square dancing, and making music with her family back when folks got together to make their own fun after the work was done. She was always up for a lively game of Skip Bo with grandkids, and also treasured time spent with her sister, Judy, watching bears, hunting, crocheting, and helping vend crafts at the yearly fishing tournament in Tidioute.
Friends will be received at the Gardinier Funeral Home, Inc., 1315 Chestnut Street, Franklin, on Monday, September 8, 2014 from 3-5 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home, following visitation at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, with Rev. Karen Parsh, pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Knox, officiating,
Interment will take place in Lamey Cemetery.
To send online condolences, flowers, cards, or for further information, family and friends are invited to visit www.gardinierfuneralhome.com.
