October 11, 1978-April 21, 2023.

Tia Elizabeth Kingsbury passed away peacefully in her home on April 21, 2023, after a
months-long battle with acute non-alcoholic decompensated liver failure. Tia leaves behind her
loving husband, TJ, and their beautiful 8-year-old daughter Lillian, as well as her fur babies
Jiminy and Ellie Mae. She is survived by her father Lanny Roth (Corrine) of Yarmouth, IA; her
father Wendel Blake (Karol) of Douglas, WY. Tia is also survived by her siblings-Tia’s 8 sisters
and 5 brothers all held a special place in her heart, along with aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews,
cousins, in-laws, co-workers, and more friends than can be counted. She was proceeded in
death by her mother Louise and her older brother John Roth.

Tia graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Southern Illinois University
Edwardsville in 2001; while there, she joined Delta Phi Epsilon sorority and made many lifelong
friends. Tia completed her Master of Social Work degree from St. Louis University in 2006. Tia
then returned to school to obtain her third degree, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from
Maryville University and graduated cum laude in December 2013. Tia was invited and became a
member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing in May 2013. She was a
Licensed Clinical Social Worker and an RN in Missouri and Illinois. In her work as both a social
worker and a nurse, she advocated for those who often felt they had no voice, working with the
most vulnerable populations for over 20 years in the behavioral health field. Her passion for
helping others and giving back to the community earned her several awards and recognitions,
including the Centerstone Community Champion Award in 2018.

“If you had Tia in your life, you were RICH with love.” Truer words could not be spoken. Tia had
a passion for life and everyone she encountered knew it immediately. She loved the beach,
swimming, attending concerts and listening to music, and was a loyal Chicago Cubs and Bears
fan. She was an amazing cook and didn’t wait for the holidays to prepare a feast for her family
and friends-it wasn’t hard to convince her to make a full Thanksgiving dinner on a random
Sunday any time of year, just because. She loved her dogs as much as she loved her people,
and over the years she and TJ’s home was always filled with fur and love from their pups; she’s
probably snuggling right now with Draco, Kody, Pyper, Chase, Gunner, and Bailey Belle piled
around her, welcoming her home again. Tia’s smile lit up the room and her sarcastic, witty,
smart-ass sense of humor could put you at ease in a millisecond… or make you really
uncomfortable until you figured out that the more crap she gave you, the more she cared about you.

It took a lot to earn Tia’s seal of approval, but once you did, you wouldn’t want it any other way.
Her presence was larger than life, and everything she did, she did wholeheartedly. She could
stop people in their tracks with just a look, and her eye rolls (especially at TJ!) were often
audible and always timed perfectly. Somehow she always knew the right words to say no matter
the situation; Tia was the voice of reason for so many people when they needed it most. Her
laugh was contagious and she was deeply protective of those she loved. She was resilient and
strong, overcoming many obstacles throughout her life, yet never letting those things make her
calloused against the world. She could find the good in any situation. Tia was the embodiment
of genuine compassion, true loyalty, and fierce love. She was a natural leader and a force to be
reckoned with in all aspects of her life. Her mentorship, insights, guidance, and support touched
so many people, personally and professionally, and she truly changed lives. Tia had a gift for
making those around her know how much they mattered, and she brought sunshine into the
darkness wherever she went.

Tia’s greatest accomplishment, however, was becoming Lily’s Mommy. Tia literally laughed Lily
into this world, and their bond was indescribable. Tia navigated the challenges of motherhood in
a way that made it seem easy and effortless, and she loves her little girl in a way that
transcends even death. “I love you to the moon and back, Little Love.” Watching Tia with Lily
was so much fun, and she instilled all that is good in the world into Lily by sharing her values
and beliefs with her; Lily is the best parts of Tia and more, and her free-spirited, sassy, and
hilarious personality emanates Tia through and through.

TJ and Lily would like to thank all of the family and friends who have been by their side over the
past four months, and who continue to show up and offer their love and support, from near and
far. It means so much to us that Tia is so loved by so many, and it has been a great source of
comfort to have you all wrap your arms around us.

Tia was a gift to this world and she left it in better shape than she found it. While words alone
cannot adequately express the grief felt by so many at this sudden and unexpected loss, the joy
Tia brought to all of us will live on in our memories forever.

There will be a celebration of life held in Tia’s honor. The time and date will be announced soon.