Our beloved Drew Tillman, died on January 8, 2021 as the result of an overdose. He was 25 years old.  Because Drew wanted to help others and did until the day he died, we share his story.

Joseph Drew Tillman was born on June 11, 1995 in Springfield, MO, raised in Kimberling City, MO and attended Reeds Spring schools.

Drew enjoyed going to the gym, writing raps, and gaming. He was great at making us laugh and when I say laugh, I mean laugh until you cried and your stomach hurt.  He will always be remembered for his loving personality, fearlessness, good looks, caring for his family and others, and always wanting to help people. Unfortunately, he will also be remembered as a statistic.

Drew began using opioids to self medicate after a serious family trauma occurred during his senior year in high school which unfortunately led to his use of heroin. Once heroin got ahold of Drew it never let him go.

Addiction does not discriminate. Using heroin once is all that it takes to get hooked; from then on you are playing Russian roulette. This is what happened to Drew. Heroin is a demon that affects the way your brain processes pleasure, taking over not just your brain but your life, destroying families and friendships.

Drew had so many dreams and aspirations that never came about because of this ugly disease and we hope by openly sharing his story, we can help others. Although he fiercely fought for years and his family loved him and was supportive, he sadly lost the battle.

Drew had moved to Round Rock, TX approximately 3 years ago to complete a 30 day stint in rehab which kept him clean for 2 1/2 years until the addiction crept back in his life.

If you have a loved one struggling with addiction, be assured that there are resources that can help.

Please don't be afraid to be the one to contact a family member or try to get help for someone that is struggling with addiction. It would be much better to lose a friend and them be alive than to lose a friend by death.

All Drew wanted was a normal life free from the chains of addiction. Please honor him by donating to a drug rehab facility near you. If they had more affordable rehab facilities in place, Drew might still be alive.

Drew was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Clifford Joseph Tillman, paternal grandmother, Myrtle June Tillman, and maternal grandfather, Gerald Eugene Dutcher, Sr.

He is survived by his mother, Anne Marie Tillman, brother, Drake Tillman, sister, Natalie Tillman, adopted sister, Maddy Stickle, maternal grandmother, Mary Elaine Wood, Uncle and Aunt, Jer and Tiffany Dutcher, Uncle and Aunt, Buster and Christine Dutcher, Uncle and Aunt, Bill and Karen Sullivan, and many cousins.

He is also survived by his biological father, Todd Tillman.

Burial was under the direction of Stumpff Funeral Home Kimberling City, MO.