JOLENE TILLOTSON

In Loving Memory of Jolene Gay (Gaul) Tillotson July 7, 1954 – June 17, 2026

Jolene Gay (Gaul) Tillotson, 71, passed away peacefully on June 17, 2026, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Born on July 7, 1954, in Dodge City, Kansas, Jolene was the beloved daughter of Vernon Dale and Elizabeth J. (Baxter) Gaul. She was raised in Ford, Kansas, where she graduated from Ford High School with the Class of 1972.

Growing up, Jolene shared a special bond with her father. Together they spent countless hours racing horses, creating memories she treasured throughout her life. Her love for horses never faded and remained one of her greatest passions.

On September 4, 1976, Jolene married the love of her life, Robert “Bob” Tillotson. Together they built a life centered on love, family, and service, raising four children: Tyler, Taylor, Tate, and Venus.

Jolene began her career as a hairstylist before becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). She cared for others with compassion, patience, and kindness, always treating those she served with dignity and respect.

While she found fulfillment in caring for others through her work, her greatest joy and life’s calling was fostering children. Opening her home and heart to children in need became her most meaningful accomplishment. She believed every child deserved to feel safe, loved, and valued, and she devoted herself to providing them with a place where they could belong. The lives she touched through her selfless love and unwavering compassion are part of the legacy she leaves behind.

Jolene enjoyed riding horses, watching basketball, and was a devoted Kansas University Jayhawks fan. More than anything, she cherished her family and treasured every moment spent with those she loved. She was preceded in death by her parents, Vernon Dale and Elizabeth J. Gaul; her brother, Marty Lynn Gaul; and her great-granddaughter, Violet Jayde Rose.

She is survived by her loving husband, Bob Tillotson; her children, Tyler, Taylor, Tate, and Venus; Her niece January Gaul, and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, great niece great nephews and many more that were blessed enough to know her. Jolene will be remembered for her generous heart, quiet strength, and unwavering compassion. Her life was defined not by what she had, but by what she gave. Though she will be deeply missed, the love she shared and the lives she touched will continue to shine through generations to come.

“Those we love never truly leave us. They live on in the kindness they shared, the lives they touched, and the love they gave.”

Forever Loved. Forever Remembered. Forever Missed.