Jess Robert Lilley

Jess Lilley, 57, passed away on July 26, 2024 after battling a reoccurrence of gall bladder cancer and liver complications. His beloved wife of 31 years, Bernadine -- and his children Josh, Zach, and Emily -- were his life and best friends, and he will be watching over them.

Jess was born to Jim and Pat Lilley, and grew up in Roswell with a plethora of siblings. He was ninth of the ten children, who are Joe (Sue), Mike (Diane), Frank (Jolene), Chris (Jerra), Tom (Cathy), Ann (Mike Jaramillo), Danny (Lisa), Monica (Chris Reynolds), and Kay. He is survived by his entire family except his father, mother, and his niece Brianna.

Jess practiced law in Las Cruces for the past 26 years, and was an avid runner his entire life.

Funeral services will be August 23 at St. Albert the Great Newman Parish, 2625 S. Solano Dr. in Las Cruces. The rosary will be at 2:00 p.m., followed by a funeral Mass at 2:30 p.m.

Services will be livestreamed on Facebook; access via GetzCares.com.

Burial services and a following reception will be private.

Special thanks to the UNM Cancer Center (Dr. Brown-Glaberman), Mayo Clinic Hospital (Phoenix), Dr. Jean-Pierre Reinhold, and Deborah Thorne, PA.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center for MMIW (NIWRC.org) or the American Liver Foundation (LiverFoundation.org).