He died April 16th 2014, twelve days short of his 98th birthday.
He was raised in Mt. Rainier, Maryland, and, after spending a short time as an apprentice electrician,
he enlisted in the United States Army during World War II.
He married Thelma Irene Fisher in 1944. When he ended his military service in 1945, he continued his work as an electrician until he retired.
He and Thelma had two children, Roland, Jr. and Sharon Elaine.
On trips to Yakima to visit his son, he fell in love with the climate and countryside, and, in 1990, he and Thelma moved here to stay.
They joined the community at Broadmoor Senior Citizen Park, and he truly enjoyed the companionship
and support of his neighbors and friends there.
Roland was always his own person. He had a wonderful sense of humor, was a folk artist and gardener, and played a devastating good game of pool,
even into his late 80s. Just ask any of the guys at the Broadmoor clubhouse! He had a soft spot in his heart for
any animal with a hard luck story. He tamed several near-feral cats that no one else could even approach and gave them a good home.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Thelma, and his daughter, Sharon Hall. He is survived by his son, Roland Lilley, Jr.,
and four grandchildren: Elizabeth Miranda, Theresa Kotarides, Cynthia Hall, and Frank Hall.
His family would like to thank Dr. Jeff Kaplan and the staff at Family Medicine of Yakima for their care of Roland, Sr. through the years.
We will always be grateful for the wonderful and loving attentions of the staff at Highgate Senior Living during the last
year and a half of Roland's life. We also deeply appreciate the professionalism and ofound kindness staff at Memorial Hospital and
Cottage in the Meadows hospice facility, and Dr. Patrick Waber during his last illness.
To honor his memory and his devotion to homeless animals, donations can be made to the Humane Society of Central Washington.
There will be a brief grave-side ceremony at Terrace Heights Memorial Park on Thursday, April 24, 2014 at 10:00 a.m.
Keith & Keith Funeral Home is in charge ofarrangements.
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