Sammy Earl Tilley, 74, of Tulsa passed away at home on Saturday November 20, 2021.

Sammy's services have been entrusted to Mobley-Groesbeck Funeral Service in Sand Springs.

Sammy was born on July 3, 1947 in Pawhuska, OK to Liney and Leo Tilley. He joined the US Air Force in August, 1965 and was Honorably Discharged on January 10, 1969.  Sammy married the love of his life, Diana Lynn Luedecke, on July 18, 1969 in Sand Springs,  Thanks to the crafty coercion of cousins (and dear friends) June and Kenneth Tilley.

He worked as a welder, then as a pipe fitter, where he and family traveled with the Pipefitter's union for 8 years, living in several states and seeing some beautiful places.  In 1984 they settled in Mannford, where Sam worked as a welder for Word Industries, until retirement.

Like his dad, Sam enjoyed fishing and being in nature.  He also enjoyed woodworking and tinkering around the shop.   He loved going to storage auctions and shooting the breeze with his auction and yard sale buddies. Sam was quite the character, with lots of funny stories and sayings and a bark much worse than his bite.  He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Sammy is survived by his wife of 52 years, Diana; his son, Travis Jay Tilley; daughter, Tiffany Suzanne Foster (Kevin); two sisters,  Geneva Chenvert (Chuck), Charlotte Loomiller; five grandchildren, Veronica Foster, Brittany Tilley, Zachary Foster, Dalton Tilley, Kaitlin Thompson; and two great grandchildren, Jayden Bruder and Charlie Siter.

Sammy was preceded in death by his parents and son, Mark Tilley.

Memorial services will be held for Sammy, on Friday December 3, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. in the chapel of Mobley-Groesbeck Funeral Service, Sand Springs with Pastor Kevin Varnell officiating.