Rodney "Nick" and Rebecca "Ann" Tillman

Hot Springs, Ark., lost two community leaders on Monday, Nov. 24, 2008, when a plane crash took the lives of Rodney "Nick" Tillman, age 49, and his wife, Rebecca "Ann" McCombs Tillman, age 42.
They are survived by their three beautiful daughters, Brittany Ann Tillman, 13, Madison Nickle Tillman, 12, and Alayna Davis Tillman, 8; Ann's parents, Rebecca and William McCombs; Nick's father, Rodney Tillman and his wife Martha Hixson Tillman, all of Hot Springs; Ann's grandmother, Jeannette Dunn of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; Ann's brother, Jim McCombs and his wife Rosa of Colorado; Nick's brother, Davis Tillman and his wife Suellen of Hot Springs; his brother, Mark Tillman and Stockton Briggle of Los Angeles; stepbrothers, Walter and Bob Hixson; and aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins whom they treasured. Their circle of friends reaches far and wide.
Nick and Ann were preceded in death by Nick's mother, Ann Davis Tillman; and Ann's brother, Michael McCombs.
Nick was co-owner of Earthbound Trading Company, a retailer of clothes and jewelry based in Dallas, with over 70 stores nationwide. Nick was an entrepreneur whose local business included Three Monkeys and Statements. Ann was the owner of No Clothes, a store of urban accessories based in downtown Hot Springs. Nick and Ann met on a Caribbean cruise and were married in Hawaii on July 19, 1993.
They lived in Chicago and Washington, D.C., before moving to Hot Springs in 1995. Both were active in the Hot Springs community. Nick was involved in many community organizations and was a past president of Fifty for the Future. Ann most recently served as chairwoman of the 2008 Designer Vision House to benefit the First Step Foundation. In 2005, the couple, along with their daughters, served as honorary chairmen of Splash of Red, a gala benefiting Arkansas Children's Hospital. Both managed to juggle their busy careers and community activities while above all placing their family first.
Nick and Ann loved life and lived it to the fullest. They inspired others to do the same, and through their selfless, untiring efforts, touched lives around the world in many ways. They traveled the globe, most recently celebrating their 15th anniversary with a romantic visit to the Taj Mahal.
The memorial service will be conducted by the Rev. William (Bud) Reeves at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1, at United Methodist Church, 1100 Central Ave., Hot Springs.
In lieu of flowers, the families request memorials be made to the First Step Foundation, Heifer International, or a charity of your choice.
The McCombs and Tillman families want to express their deepest sympathy and condolences to the family of pilot Greg Secrest, a close friend of Nick and Ann's, whose loss will be felt by all. Join us for a celebration of Nick and Ann's life