K. Bill Tiley

1927 - 2017

K. Bill Tiley

K. Bill Tiley passed away on March 19, 2017. He was born on April 16, 1927 in Fort Collins of Mae and Louis Tiley. He attended school in Fort Collins and graduated from Fort Collins High in 1945. FCHS won the state basketball championship in 1944 and 1945. Bill started every game sophomore through senior year. His picture still hangs in the hallway at FCHS. Bill was very proud that he and all 7 of his children graduated from FCHS. He was very excited to watch his grandson, Sam who will be graduating from FCHS next year where he plays varsity basketball.

Bill enlisted in the Navy following his senior year in high school. He was stationed at Coronado Island, San Diego.

He attended college at CSU, CU, and graduated from the University of Denver in Business and Finance. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

He married Ruth Ilse, in 1948 and they had four children Rich, Randy, Linda and Bill. Divorced in 1961, they remained friends through their later years.

After graduation from University of Denver he was the manager of Sherwin Williams before he began his long career in real estate development. Working on postwar subdivisions in the beginning with his parents Mae and Harley Tiley and Developer Bob Everitt.

Bill was co-developer of South College Heights, University Acres, Thunderbird Estates, the Lemay Medical Building, the Century Mall which included the first McDonald's franchise, the Moot House, and developments surrounding Collindale and Southridge Golf Courses.

In 1957 CSU decided to move the agronomy farm from its location between Stover and the hospital road. Bill and his mother Mae Tiley won the bid and partnered with Bob Everitt on University Acres naming the streets after former CSU presidents as well as an early agronomy professor at the college. Bob Everitt and Bill Tiley renamed Hospital Road "LeMae" after Everitt's father Les and Tiley's mother, Mae. The street name was, however, mislabeled Lemay.

In 1975 he married Claudette Krebsbach and adopted her three children Jeff, Michelle, and Michael.

Bill Tiley and his family currently own and manage three Ft. Collins Dairy Queens. It's truly a family affair.

Always a huge sport enthusiast Bill played in numerous golf tournaments over the years, enjoyed attending CSU Basketball and Football games, also going to FCHS and watching the basketball games.

He is or has been a member of Elks Club, Fort Collins Country Club, Greeley Country Club, Ptarmigan Country Club, Ram's Horn and Former Athletics Association at CSU.

In 2009, he went to Washington DC on an honor flight for Veterans.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 41 years, Claudette A. Tiley; his seven children: Jeffrey Tiley, Michelle Chavez (Pete), Michael Tiley, Rich Tiley (Cyndy), Randy Tiley (Janel), Linda Stark (Alan), and William Tiley and ten grandchildren.

If you would like to make a contribution in Bill's memory please donate to the FCHS Basketball program in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive, Fort Collins, Colorado 80524.Friends may send condolences to the family at bohlenderfuneralchapel.com.

A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 29 at Timberline Church, South Auditorium, 2908 S. Timberline Rd.