Nora Mae Tolby, 90, of Litchfield, died on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, at the Litchfield Health and Rehab Center.
A funeral service will be held Friday, Sept. 25, at 11 a.m., at the Walshville Baptist Church, with the Rev. Rudy Elam officiating. Visitation will take place from 10 a.m., until the time of the service. Burial will take place at Sunnyside Cemetery in Sorento.
Ms. Tolby was born on March 29, 1936, one of 12 children to Leslie and Dorothy (Watson) Hemken, in Hillsboro. She was raised in the Hillsboro, Litchfield and Walshville areas. She graduated from the Walshville Elementary School, attended Panama High School for two years, then graduated from Litchfield High School with the class of 1954. While attending school in Litchfield, she worked at the Dixie Market and Bakery for three years and she worked for a time at Pursell’s Panther Den.
In 1956, she moved to southern California, where she was employed by Hughes Aircraft Company, which eventually became a part of Raytheon. She worked at Hughes/Raytheon for 40 years until her retirement in December 2004.
Ms. Tolby married Murlin Tolby in 1959; they later divorced. She was a member of El Segunda First Baptist Church in El Segunda, CA, until she returned to Illinois.
Ms. Tolby is survived by three brothers; David L. Hemken of Litchfield, Paul (Mary Jo) Hemken of Sorento and Kevin Hemken of Walshville; three sisters; Nancy Koonce of Litchfield, Wilma Willette Osborne of Litchfield, and Phyllis Beiermann of Hillsboro; and many nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Rick Hemken, Jason Hemken and Ray Hempken; an infant brother, Raymond Hemken; her sister, Gertrude Seal; two sisters-in-law, Judy Hemken and Sandra Hemken; and one brother-in-law, Don Koonce.
Assalley Funeral Home is assisting the family. Please visit www.assalleyfuneralhomes.com to share condolences with the family.
