Steven “Tony” Nixon Tillery, 32, passed away at his residency in Newton, Kansas, on Aug. 14, 2023.
He was born in Mesa, Arizona, on Aug. 25, 1990, to Kayla Tillery Martinez and Stevie Pastrano Nixon. Later in life, he moved to Newton, Kansas, and was a graduate of Valley Center High School in Valley Center, Kansas.
He worked for a few places, such as AGCO and Excel, and eventually found his passion as a roofer. He was a dedicated family man and was known for his sense of humor and compassion for others. He was smart, handsome and had mad skills and was often known to be an animal or child whisperer. All kids and animals just loved and bonded with him. He knew of no stranger and accomplished anything he set his mind to or touched.
He loved playing sports, riding, and training horses, playing video games and being with his close friends and family (especially his children Kourtlynn and Jaxson, whom he loved endlessly). They were his world. He was a huge Dallas Cowboys fan and a big-time jokester with his silly ways. He loved making people smile and laugh. He could achieve and conquer anything he attempted to do in life, with no previous training or knowledge. He was so caring and compassionate all the way around.
Steven “Tony” was fighting a longtime battle with renal kidney disease and congenital heart failure. He was a champ, a trooper through it all. So strong and so brave.
He is survived by his mother, Kayla Tiller Martinez of Newton, Kan.; father, Stevie Pastrano Nixon of Mesa, Ariz.; daughter, Kourtlynn Kerschen, and son, Jaxson Tillery, both of Wichita, Kan.; brother, Noah Tillery Holden of Newton, Kan.; grandmother, Minnie Nixon of Mesa, Ariz.; uncles, James Tillery of Great Bend, Kan., Tommy Nixon, Danny Nixon, and Raymond Nixon, all of Mesa, Ariz.; aunts, Linda Trujillo, Annie Nixon Godoy, Angie Nixon, Dolores Nixon, Kathy Nixon all of Mesa, Ariz., and Gina Tatum of Phoenix, Ariz.; his best friends, Mason Wakefield of El Dorado, Kan., and Kaley Kerschen (mother of his children) of Wichita, Kan.; and lots and lots of cousins in Arizona and Kansas.
He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Lana Long of Mesa, Ariz.; grandfathers, David Nixon of Mesa, Ariz., and Jerry Tillery of Great Bend, Kan.; uncles, Ralph Pastrano of Mesa, Ariz., and Tony Estrada of Phoenix, Ariz.; and aunt, Lily Jimenez of Mesa, Ariz.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, Aug. 26, at Affordable Cremations Plus, 7920 W. Kellogg Drive in Wichita, Kansas, from 2 until 5 p.m.
Contributions may be sent to any Renal Kidney Foundation or organization of your choosing in honor of my son, Steven “Tony” Nixon Tillery.
