Tyler McCrillis

Tyler McCrillis, 42, of Louisville, KY, formerly of Palestine, IL, passed away on September 17, 2025. Born on September 7, 1983, in Robinson, IL, to Steve & Becky (Maddox) McCrillis, he grew up in Palestine, where his quick wit and sharp mind made him unforgettable to everyone around him. He thrived in school, writing for the yearbook, playing trumpet in the band, and honing his swing with the golf team. He graduated from Palestine High School in 2002, spent three years at Lincoln Trail College, and eventually headed to Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN, where he earned a degree in music business.

For Tyler, music wasn't merely a pastime, but a part of who he was. He started piano lessons at a young age, took a short break, and then came back to it with a passion that stayed with him for life. No matter where life took him, whenever he came back to Palestine, one of the first things he did was sit down at the family piano. He played often at Palestine First Christian Church and became part of the soundtrack of their Christmas Eve candlelight service year after year. Even during college, he found ways to stay around music, running sound for LTC's music department and helping make other people's music heard.

Tyler's work life took him many places, from managing the Pizza House in Palestine to working as a teller at First Robinson Savings Bank before eventually crossing the river to Jeffersonville, IN, and finally settling in Louisville, KY. There, he found a place with Epiq, managing offices for the law firm of Stites & Harbison for over a decade. His colleagues admired his steady hand and work ethic, something his family has heard again and again in the many calls they have received over the last few days.

But if you really wanted to know Tyler, you had to see him outside of work. You had to hear him shout the Jeopardy answers at the TV before anyone else could. You had to see him on trivia night in Louisville, rattling off answers with his endless pop culture knowledge, or sitting in a theater seat with season tickets in hand. You had to catch him in the middle of some project, like building toys or a play kitchen for his nieces, as his creativity was always looking for a place to land.

And you had to see him with his family. Because for all the music, the trivia, the projects, and the humor, this was where his heart beat the loudest. His nieces, Presley and Harper, were his biggest fans, and when he was home, he was theirs, too. Together, they played games, swam under the stars, watched movies, and, let's be honest, gave their parents a break! If Tyler was in town, they were together, and they wouldn't have had it any other way.

Tyler was strong, resilient, and independent. Sure, he could be a little impatient, but he loved his family and close circle of friends with everything he had. He was funny and clever and full of the kind of light that made ordinary moments feel memorable. That light will keep shining in the people who loved him most, reminding them to laugh a little louder, to love a little deeper, and to never miss a chance to make a moment count.

He is survived by his parents, Steve & Becky McCrillis (Palestine, IL); his brother & sister-in-law, Evan & Hillary McCrillis (Palestine, IL); his nieces, Presley McCrillis and Harper McCrillis (with another expected in January); by his aunts & uncles, Cindy & Robert York, Phoebe & Don Correll, Mary Ellen McCrillis, and Steve Wills; as well as many cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Reid & Marjorie McCrillis and Gene & Carol Sue Maddox.

A time of visitation will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Monday, September 22nd, at the Goodwine Funeral Home in Palestine. Funeral services will immediately follow at 6:00 p.m. with Pastor Dennis Steckley officiating. For those unable to attend in person, a live stream of the service will be available online at goodwinefuneralhomes.com/live-stream/live-stream. A committal service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 23rd, at the Palestine Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the "LTC Music Department," with memorial envelopes available at the funeral home.