Kathlyn Marie Ackerman Churchman Tillman departed this life on Sunday morning, August 1, 2021, in Bella Vista, Arkansas, after a lengthy illness.  She was in the presence of family at her home under the gracious care of Circle of Life Hospice and her granddaughter, Emily.  She was born in Alton, Illinois, on September 25, 1935, to Herman L. and Marie (Brunworth) Ackerman, who preceded her in death.

A graduate of Alton Senior High School and the Lutheran School of Nursing in St. Louis, Missouri in 1956, she began a lifelong career as a Registered Nurse, initially with the U.S. Navy stationed in Oakland, California.  It was during this assignment she met and married Sgt. Herbert Churchman, USMC, who also preceded her in death in 1976.  To this union was born three daughters and a son, Kathlyn Gayle (Churchman) Machetta, Kimberly Diane (Churchman) Denham, Daniel Louis Churchman and Karen Kay Churchman.  They made their homes in Delaware, Illinois and Florida over the course of their careers. Kathy's work in the Pediatric Unit at Alton Memorial Hospital, Tallahassee Memorial Hospital E.R. for a brief time, Olin Corporation's Occupational Health Dept. in St. Marks, Florida and then back at the Emergency Department of Alton Memorial Hospital spanned 40 years.  Following Herb's death, Kathy continued residence in Alton where she met her second husband, Dr. Ernest F. Tillman. Their blended family then included bonus sons Paul Tillman and Richard Tillman and daughters Carol Haukap and Joanne Berry.

They retired in 1995 to Bella Vista, Arkansas, and Kathy learned to play golf with Ernie, allowing them to join in a couple of organized groups as well as the Illinois Club.  They both became active members of the Nomad Shrine and Shrine Ladies Clubs and a Supper Club of Olin Retirees.  Their membership at Community Church and at Bella Vista Lutheran Church allowed them to be involved in Shepherd Groups and as Hospitality Greeters. They traveled extensively collecting pieces of their Dept. 56 Christmas Village and assembling an elaborate display in their home.  Following daughter Karen as she traveled with the University of Oklahoma band, the Pride, allowed her to become a huge Sooners football fan, and she was a season ticket holder for almost 20 years. She also joined the Calico Cut-ups Quilt Guild and a delightful group of Canasta Cuties who played cards nearly every week.  Kathy was an accomplished seamstress which was a great comfort to her following Ernie's death in 2001, creating many beautiful quilts that she gifted or donated to worthy causes.  Hosting and entertaining during the Christmas holidays and at a July reunion each year was eagerly anticipated by everyone in the family.

In addition to her parents and both of her husbands, Kathy was preceded in death by her brothers, Robert Ackerman and William C. Ackerman and by her daughter, Karen Kay (KK) Churchman and son-in-law Peter Machetta.

She is survived by her daughter, Gayle Machetta; her children, Emily Machetta and Joe Machetta and his wife Sue, and their children, Abbigayle, Logan, Chachan, Oscar, and Yessie; by daughter Kim Denham and her husband Robin, their boys Joe Denham and his sons Luke and Owen, Mack Denham, Thomas Denham and Michael Denham; by son Dan Churchman and his wife Leigh, and their children Brooke Churchman, and Dr. Brian Churchman and his wife Rachelle, and their children Maverick, Gavin, Greycie Diaz and Derek Diaz; and by her bonus blended family, son Paul Tillman and his wife Jane, and their sons Dr. David Tillman and his wife Lauren, with their children Nina and Austin, and Michael Tillman and his wife Danielle; son Richard Tillman and his wife Teresa, and their daughters Amanda Jewitt, Jenny Tillman, and DeeDee Ball and her husband Tyler; daughters Carol Haukap, and her daughters Grace Haukap, and son Robbie, and Gloria Haukap and her children Isaiah and Jessie; and Joanne Berry and her husband David, and their daughter Barbie Filipiak and her husband Ken, and their daughter Alayna.  That's a total of seven grown children, sixteen grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren, which were the light of her life.  She is also survived by sisters-in-law Linda Ackerman, Carol Ackerman, and Anna Marie Austin and a number of nieces, nephews, and many, many dear friends.

A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held at Bella Vista Lutheran Church on Saturday, August 21 ^st at 2:00 p.m., with interment of her remains to be completed at Roselawn Cemetery in Bethalto, Illinois, Saturday, September 4, 2021 at 11:00 a.m.  There will be a reception to follow at the VFW. Memorial donations have been designated to the Quilts of Valor Foundation, PO Box 191, Winterset IA 50273, or the charity of your choice in Kathy's name.

Arrangements are by Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory, 2258 Forest Hills Blvd., Bella Vista, Arkansas. Condolences may be expressed at www.funeralmation.com.