‘Selfless’ father of 6 collapses, dies while moving son into Arkansas State University

A beloved father of six died suddenly after collapsing on the floor while helping move his son into a dorm at Arkansas State University over the weekend.

Jeremy Tillman, 45, of Russellville, Arkansas, suffered a “very sudden medical event” at the university around 10 a.m. Saturday, his fiancée, Elizabeth Goodson, 39, told KARK.

“He came through the door and he was in obvious distress,” Goodson, 39, said. “I guess he may have strained too hard.”

Tillman was assisting his son, Jace Tillman, move his belongings onto campus ahead of the fall semester.

The car dealership employee was found not breathing on the floor with foam “pouring” out of his mouth, Today reported. Emergency services performed CPR on Tillman and used a defibrillator to restart his heart.

He was taken to St. Bernards Medical Center, where he died.

“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 to her at Machu Pucchu. She planned on wearing her engagement dress to his funeral, which was Wednesday.

His fiancée remembered him for his fierce 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.”

Tillman would always try to make it to all his children’s events, Goodson said.

“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.”

Tillman’s daughter, Hannah Brazil, took to Facebook to write a touching tribute to her father, 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.”

His son, Jaymi Tillman, also wrote on Facebook: “God I miss you so much already.”

Jace posted a montage of childhood photos of him and his dad to his account.

Tillman’s family remembered him for his love of “shooting guns, working on cars, and most of all, spending time with his family,” his obituary read.