JoAnne Tylman

Mrs. JoAnne Hale Tylman, 76, of Taylorville, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 16, 2021 at Saint Francis Hospital in Peoria, from COPD complications secondary to a successful Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm surgery. JoAnne lived a full life and spent her time in this world living fully, learning always, giving generously and teaching patiently.

She was born on April 22, 1945 to Reverend Floyd I. Hale and Dorothy C. (Pickett) Hale in Mt. Vernon. Since her father was serving in the Navy when she was born, he didn’t see his only daughter until January of 1946. When her father decided to attend college in 1948, the family moved to Wilmore, KY, then to Lyerly, GA in 1951 while her father earned his Doctorate of Divinity at Emory University.

Upon the Hale family’s return to Illinois JoAnne attended elementary school in Elizabethtown, IL Wilmore, KY, and Lyerly, GA, then attended junior high school in Vienna, IL, and eighth grade through twelfth grade in Johnston City, IL where she received her high school diploma in May of 1963. JoAnne spent her freshman college year at McKendree College, in Lebanon and her sophomore year at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. After completing her second year of university learning in 1965, she decided to take a sabbatical from education. She moved to St. Louis, MO and worked for a law firm for six months and then moved to Kansas City, MO where she worked as a restaurant server for six months. In the Fall of 1966 JoAnne returned to Illinois for her junior year at Eastern Illinois University (EIU) in Charleston.

During the Summer of 1967 JoAnne met her future husband, Stanley (but she always called him Skip – his family nickname), newly discharged from the U.S. Army, who was about to attend EIU also. As JoAnne and Skip grew closer, she left EIU and obtained an office position at Moody Manufacturing in Mattoon.

On June 1, 1968, JoAnne and Skip were married by her father at the Grayville Methodist Church (actually the Presbyterian Church as the Methodist Church was being renovated).  After the couple honeymooned in St. Louis, MO, JoAnne returned to work supporting Skip as he continued his course work.

On June 27, 1970, JoAnne gave birth to her lovely daughter, Michelle Rae. Upon Skip’s graduation later that Summer, he obtained a job, and the family moved to Taylorville. JoAnne was eager to return to work and contribute to the family’s well-being. When Michelle was three years old, JoAnne’s retired neighbor (Michelle adopted Lenora Sheahan as her third grandmother) volunteered to care for the child, while JoAnne worked for the Child Care Association in Springfield.

When Michelle started her education in 1976, JoAnne returned to the position of a full-time mother, and on December 5, 1979 she gave birth to her second lovely daughter, Emily Kathryn. Four years later JoAnne resumed her education at Lincoln Land Community College and Sangamon State University. In 1984 she resumed her career. She taught children to read in the Kincaid, Edinburg, Stonington and Taylorville schools until she retired in 2004.

In 2004 JoAnne cruised the Caribbean with her father after her mother passed away. In 2010 she and Skip visited London, England after he retired in 2009. In 2013 she and Skip joined her father and his wife, Alice, for a two-week cruise of the Mediterranean. In 2018, for their fiftieth wedding anniversary, JoAnne and Skip cruised the Caribbean. They enjoyed it so much they repeated the same cruise in 2019.

At the same time JoAnne was active in the Taylorville community. She was a member of the Preceptor Sorority (XI Delta Theta), and the Sertoma Service Club.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Dorothy; and her father, Floyd. 

She is survived by her husband, Stanley; her daughters, Michelle R. (husband, Tim) Sleevar, and Emily K. Tylman; four grandchildren who lovingly referred to her as “Grandma Pumpkin”, Savannah R. Sleevar, Nicholas P. Sleevar, Harper M. Tylman, and Cooper S. Tylman; her brothers, Larry L. (wife, Brenda) Hale, Paul I. (wife, Dixie) Hale, and J. Mark (wife, Anita) Hale.

Visitation & Funeral Ceremony: The family will receive guest from 2:00 p.m. until the time of the funeral ceremony at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 23, 2021 at Shafer-Perfetti & Assalley Funeral Home, 202 W. Franklin Street, Taylorville, IL 62568 with Pastor Becky Lembke officiating.  The family will receive guests after the funeral ceremony until 5:30 p.m.

Private family interment will be held at Oakwood Cemetery in Mt. Vernon.

Memorial contributions may be made to: First United Methodist Church, 200 S. Walnut Street, Taylorville, IL 62568, or the American Civil Liberties Union, 150 N. Michigan Ave. Suite 600, Chicago, IL 60601.

Please visit www.assalleyfuneralhomes.com to share memories of JoAnne, or offer condolences to her family.