A beloved father of six died unexpectedly over the weekend after collapsing on the floor while assisting with his son's move into a dorm at Arkansas State University.
At approximately 10:00 a.m. on the day in question, Jeremy Tillman, 45, of Russellville, Arkansas, suffered a "very sudden medical event" at the university, as recounted on Saturday by his 39-year-old fiancée Elizabeth Goodson who spoke to KARK.
“He came through the door, and he was in obvious distress,” Goodson, 39, said, according to the New York Post. “I guess he may have strained too hard.”
Before the start of the autumn semester, Tillman helped his son, Jace Tillman begin to bring belongings into the college dormitory.
How He Was Found
The auto dealership employee was discovered unresponsive on the floor with froth "pouring" from his mouth, according to the Times report. Emergency personnel administered CPR and used a defibrillator to restore Tillman's pulse.
He was transported to the St. Bernards Medical Center, where he passed away: “We went there with him, and then driving home without him was, I think, one of the worst things I’ve ever experienced,” Goodson told KARK.
The grandfather of two became engaged to Goodson at the end of June in Peru, where he proposed at Machu Picchu. She said she intended to wear her engagement dress to his funeral on Wednesday.
His fiancée recalled Tillman's intense love, telling KARK, “He has children that are his and children that aren’t biologically his, and he just took everyone in and loved them like his own, so he is deeply loved by all of his children.”
Dedication to Family
Goodson stated that Tillman always made a serious effort to attend all of his children's special events.
“Jeremy was an understanding parent,” Goodson told Today. “Despite working full-time and part-time at home, he rarely missed important events, and he always made time for movie nights, soccer in the yard, or pull-up competitions. He showed our children how a man should treat a woman, and how to be intentional with your word.
“He was selfless, and always worked hard to ensure everyone had the things that they wanted and needed, often to his own detriment. He loved all our children and was the epitome of what a man and father should be," she said.
Tillman’s daughter, Hannah Brazil, offered a tribute on Facebook, saying: “Our father was a well-respected and loving man that always put his family first, and never stopped putting a smile on the face of everyone he interacted with.”
