Rev. Monte Jackson Tiller

Rev. Monte Jackson "Preach" Tiller age 81 of Lantana, Florida, formerly of Louisville, passed away at home on Jan. 13, 2024, from pancreatic cancer.
At the age of six growing up in Louisville, KY he asked his parents if he could be baptized after which his mother referred to him as "the Preacher" and the nickname stuck. Aside from his devotion and service to the Lord, those who knew him were aware that he had a lifelong love of fishing, racquetball, and mayonnaise necessary at every meal. In early adulthood he worked with his father and eventually inherited the Tiller Piano and Organ company Co. in Louisville becoming the third generation of ownership. He learned to buy and sell but his heart was never about growing the business. He was always about helping others. One December the local newspaper inadvertently printed the store's phone number on their call Santa Claus line. Rather than letting the kids down Monte rose to the challenge and took all the calls with a HO, HO, HO playing Santa Claus.
During his years in the piano business Monte received a higher calling and proceeded to study and received a Master of Divinity from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in June 1979 and was ordained in the Episcopal Church to the diaconate Aug 30,1979. He was ordained into priesthood by Bishop David Reed on Nov. 30, 1980. He went on to serve St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Anchorage, KY, and St. Andrews Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Louisville before becoming Rector at the Church of the Resurrection in West Chicago, IL. When ready to escape the cold weather of Chicago he headed for the sunny shores of Florida. Fr. Monte transferred to the Diocese of Southeast Florida serving as supply clergy before taking interim priest positions for the congregations of Holy Redeemer, Lake Worth, St. Mary Magdalene in Coral Springs, St. Matthews Delray Beach, as well as an assisting priest at the Chapel of St. Andrews where he met his future wife, Sue.
In April 1994 he was called as Rector to Holy Redeemer, Lake Worth. This ministry grew to define the mission of Holy Redeemer. From the simple act of a few parishioners handing out peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to the hungry at John Prince Park, the mustard seed grew into Friday night suppers, Tuesday food distribution, social services assistance, Thanksgiving dinners and the Angel Tree giving program at Christmas. Today, nearly 30 years later, the Palanca Pantry is still going strong, providing food filling a crucial need in the surrounding neighborhood.
In addition to serving as a priest Fr. Monte also worked as a Crisis Support Specialist for South County Mental Health Center located in Delay Beach for suicide victims. He was the Director of Pastoral care and a field Chaplin in West Chicago, Vitas in Fort Lauderdale and Hospice of Palm Beach County now known as Trustbridge. He taught alongside Dr. Philip Kettle the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) course for those serving as chaplains at Trustbridge before finally retiring at the age of 72.
Monte was the son of the late Armond A. Tiller and Mona F. (Turner) Tiller. He leaves his wife, Sue and son, Joshua. He is survived by his four sisters: Marlene Mosley, Monica and Cookie Tiller and Gaye (Newton) Medbury as well as his four children from his previous marriage to Sarah Gentleman Tiller: Paige (Hal) Farling, Whitney Renfroe, John Cresson (Dixie), and Ashley. Grandchildren: Jackson, Carolyn and Sarah Farling, Jamison, Brooke, Hannah and JT Renfroe, and CJ and Alexis Tiller. Three great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life to take place at St. Joseph's Episcopal Church, 3300 Seacrest Blvd. Boynton Beach, Fl 33435 on March 2, 2024, at 5pm. Service can be viewed via livestream on the St. Joseph's Episcopal Church pages on Facebook and YouTube. Visitation in Louisville to take place April 6, 2024, at Pearson Funeral Home 149 Breckenridge Lane from 9:30-11:00 AM with graveside service to follow at 12:00 PM at Calvary Cemetery, Louisville KY
In lieu of flowers donations are being asked to support the St Joseph's Music ministry piano fund and the Palanca pantry. Please make donations to St. Joseph's and indicate in the memo field which ministry to support.
Arrangements under the direction of Pearson's, "Where Louisville Goes to Remember".