ST. TAMMANY PARISH, LA. 

Obituary for: TILLEY, LOUIS 

Submitted by: Louis Lavedan. 

Source: Honaker Funeral Home, Slidell, La.

Died Wednesday, May 2, 2012

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TILLEY, LOUIS 
(January 15, 1916 - May 2, 2012)

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Mr. Louis N. Tilley, age 96, a longtime resident of Slidell, passed away on 
Wednesday, May 2, 2012, in Cape Coral, Florida. 

Lou was born in Maplewood, NJ on January 15, 1916 and graduated from Toms River 
High School, NJ. 
He married Mary Ryan and together they had 3 sons. 
Mary passed away very young. 
WWII began shortly thereafter, and Lou enlisted in the USAF. He flew 34 
missions over Germany as a B-17 pilot, leaving his boys in the care of his 
elder sister Louise Tilley. Lou was awarded the Air Medal and the Distinguished 
Flying Cross. 
After the liberation of Paris, France, he met Madeleine Planchon who was 
working at the American Express and they were married in Meudon, A Paris suburb 
and his new bride travelled to America by boat, adopted his 3 sons and together 
they produced a daughter. 
They have remained married for 66 years until his death on May 2, 2012 at the 
age of 96. 
Taking advantage of the GI Bill, Lou moved his family to New Orleans and 
eventually to Slidell, LA, where he started Gulf Coast Towing Company, 
culminating in pushing NASA’S Apollo Rocket between the Bay Saint Louis Test 
Facility and Cape Canaveral for several years. 
After retiring and moving to Cape Coral, Florida, Lou became involved in real 
estate, building condominiums, building sail boats (The Tropic Star line), and 
in Mel Fisher’s Treasure Salvors. 
He donated all the proceeds of his share of the treasure to the Miami 
Historical Museum, for which he was publicly recognized. 
As a recognized philanthropist, Lou founded Brighten The Corners, a trust that 
sends worthy high school students to college, and which is being funded 
posthumously by his estate. 
During their long and adventurous 66 year marriage, Lou and Madeleine travelled 
throughout the US, parts of Canada and Europe. They sailed throughout the 
Bahamas, Virgin Islands, Antilles, Yucatan, and Bermuda for 30 years, plus much 
weekend racing in between. 
Lou and Madeline were very active members of the Mandeville Yacht Club in 
Louisiana, the CMCS Sailing Club of Ft. Myers, FL. and the Cape Coral Sailing 
Club. 

Lou is survived by his wife, Madeleine, and 3 of their 4 children, Orlando 
Kenneth Tilley, David James Tilley, and Michele Tilley Fry, 9 grandchildren, 14 
great grandchildren and 4 great greats. 

Their oldest son, Frederick Leslie Tilley passed away in 2009. 

Graveside Services will be held on Tuesday, May 15, 2012, at 11:30am, at Forest 
Lawn Cemetery in Slidell, Louisiana. 

In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to Brighten The Corners c/o 
Community Foundation, 4729 Vincennes Blvd., Cape Coral, FL 33904 to help 
promising young students to further their academic education.

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