Charlene Tirey, 85, of Madisonville, KY passed away on Thursday, April 26, 2018 at Baptist Health Madisonville.

She was born on August 27, 1932 in Harrisonville, MO to the late, Opal A. Atkison and Charles S. Atkison. Charlene grew up on her families farm. She spoke frequently about her young days working on the farm and playing with her sisters. After graduating from Harrisonville High she left home and started working downtown in Kansas City, MO as a clerk. She met and married her Kentucky heart throb, Kenny, on June 7, 1957 then, gave birth to their three children. As a homemaker Charlene was a loving wife and mother. She was kind and worked hard everyday of her life. She spent time sewing and crafting. Charlene cooked amazing home grown foods that she canned, and prepared. If you visited, rest assured that you did not leave hungry. She had a wonderful passion for music, as she, wrote songs, sang, and played the piano almost daily. She enjoyed growing flowers creating beautiful blooms and she grew eggs from her egg plants. She was usually the queen of her many, friendly games of croquet and ruled the roost during card games, especially, games of Slap and Rummy that she played with all her children. Charlene was down to earth, knew her God, and enjoyed life.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her brothers-in-law, Bill Kirk and Baisel Oringderff.

Survivors include her husband; Kenneth Tirey; her children; Kenneth Wayne (Lee Ann) Tirey of Cambria, IL, Terri Ann (Louis) Parker of Divernon, IL and Charles Michael Tirey of Madisonville, KY; grandchildren:; Brea Ann (Scott) Collins,  Brook Lee Collins, both of Litchfield, IL, Paula (Mike) Pacquette, Jack Lon (Melissa) Collins both of Sherman, IL, Jay Coleman (Hannah) Tirey of Johnson City, IL, Lucy Charlene Parker of DeKalb, IL, Kenneth Michael Reece Tirey of Madisonville, KY; great-grandchildren, Terri Ann, Aaron, Justin, Brittany, Emilee, Elizabeth, Josclyn, and Khloe; great-great-grandchildren; Everly Jo, Lily, Justin Jr., and one on the way; sisters, Dixie Kirk of Harrisonville MO, Marie (Jim) Fisher of Raymore, MO; Louise Oringderff of Columbia, MO and; many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, April 30, 2018 in the chapel of Harris Funeral Home in Madisonville with Bro. Tommy Hayes officiating. Burial to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in Madisonville.

Visitation will be from Noon until the funeral hour Monday at the funeral home.