Lois D. Tillotson
Lois D. Tillotson, 83, of Harford, passed away Saturday, July 18, 2026, at home with her family by her side.
No offense to the great Paul Harvey who narrates this special piece that those of us with an agricultural heart know and love. I have "fixed" it a bit. You all know how this starts: And on the 8th day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, "I need a caretaker, so God made a Farmer." But on the 9th day, upon further review, God realized that he wasn't quite done and therefore he quickly remedied his error – Then God made a Farmer's Wife.
God said, "I need someone who has been up all night with a teething baby, an achy husband, a sick boy or girl, or a broken-hearted teenager who just needed their mom. Who will then be up before the farmer to make sure he has clean clothes and watered calves despite Mother Nature's wrath of frozen pipes or scorching heat." - So God made a Farmer's Wife.
God said, "I need someone whose hugs will be sought on the darkest of days with the promise that everything will be right in those arms. Someone who will celebrate all your victories, big and small, beam with pride at academic and sports award ceremonies that 'always happen at chore time.' She will celebrate that horrible school yearbook picture that 'looks just like ya!' and remind you that you got all your good looks from your mother's side of the family." - So God Made a Farmer's Wife.
God said, "I need someone who will be humble and sacrifice endlessly so her children and grandchildren can shine. Someone who will quietly mourn those babies born with wings while spoiling those at her feet with a pot of goulash, peanut butter cookies, or the best apple pie on the planet that 'is so easy' to make. Someone who will make macaroni salad that is the stuff of legends, just ask anyone lucky enough to sit around her farm table. (PS - She hated those pancakes she probably made a million of in her day.) Someone who will demonstrate food as her love language and speak it well. Someone to find ways to feed an army even with empty cupboards. Someone magical like that." - So God made a Farmer's Wife.
God said, "I need someone to run to town for parts 14 times in one day, pay the feed bill with the dwindling milk check, call 17 counties to find kids to man the hay mow while juggling other kids home on school break who are looking for rides to practice or a game, that need a uniform washed yesterday and are always wondering what's for supper?" - So God Made a Farmer's Wife.
God said: "I need someone strong of conviction but warm of heart, someone who can sew, fry, fold, sweep, wipe, soothe, hold, hum softly to, rock, laugh with, scold as needed, direct subtly, love endlessly and live forever in our souls." So God made Mom, Lois Davis Tillotson, the best Farmer's Wife ever to grace this hollow or any farm past, present or future. We will love you and celebrate you forever. Rest now, Nana, job well done.
Lois was predeceased by her parents: John and Agnes Graham Davis; her husband: Ward Tillotson, Jr.; sister: Patti Ann Grinnell; grandson: Gunther Tillotson.
She is survived by her children: Linda (Randy) Foster, John (Becky) Tillotson, Karen (John) Burns, Patti (Jason) Trabucco, Richard (Emily) Tillotson; grandchildren: Ryan, Jack, Andrew, Brooke, Mark, Oscar, and Henry Tillotson, Joseph Foster, Abigail, Barrett, and Tucker Trabucco; nieces and nephews: Elaine Hutson, Sue Wilson, Ted Grinnell, Valerie Hartnett, Lisa Morgan, and Terri Hoke.
Calling hours will be held on July 23, 2026, from 4-7 PM at Perkins Funeral Home, 55 W. Main Street, Dryden, with a time of reflection to begin at 6:30 PM. Burial will be in Virgil Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to MAVAC, P.O. Box 132, Marathon, NY 13803. Online condolences can be left at www.perkinsfh.com.