Margaret Zeigler Hilliard

Margaret Zeigler Hilliard passed away peacefully surrounded by family on November 20, 2022 in Tyler, Texas. Services will be held Wednesday, November 23, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at Stewart Family Funeral Home in Tyler, Texas officiated by Rev. Dr. Stuart Baskin. Born in Longview, Texas on February 4, 1931 to Leroy Trice and Nelda Wilkins Zeigler. Margaret was proud to be the descendant of a pioneer family of Gregg County, Texas. Margaret graduated from Hockaday School in Dallas, Texas and attended Southern Methodist University. Margaret met William “Bill” Hilliard in 1949 while attending a dance with friends at Texas A&M University where Bill was a student. They married February 3, 1951 in Longview, Texas. Margaret and Bill were together 44 years before Bill passed away in 1995. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Margaret’s joy in life was being with friends and family and she had a gift for hospitality and making others feel welcome. When she wasn’t entertaining, she enjoyed playing mahjong, traveling, gardening, and cooking up delicious dishes. She was proud to be a blood donor, having donated 13 gallons over the years. Margaret enjoyed being a community volunteer with the Junior League of Tyler, and a deacon at First Presbyterian Church in Tyler. She was the family storyteller and amazed us all with her memory. Margaret was predeceased by her husband, Bill Hilliard; parents, Leroy and Nelda Wilkins Zeigler; son-in-law, Ronald Samford, Jr.; and grandson, Matt Hilliard. She is survived by brother, John Zeigler; son, Mike Hilliard and wife, Debbie; daughter, Carol Samford; son, John Hilliard and wife, Suzy; grandson, Michael Hilliard and wife, Yao; granddaughters, Lindsey Edwards and husband, Jason, Jordan Lambert and husband, Peyton, Claire Richards and husband Mike, Brittany Sandbach, and Meredith Hilliard; great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn Hilliard, Natalie Hilliard, Emily Hilliard, Caroline Hilliard, Tommy Hilliard, Paige Hilliard, Erin Edwards, Jack Edwards, Ford Lambert, Sawyer Lambert, Teddy Lambert, Cooper Sandbach, and Brody Sandbach. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations to the Hiway 80 Rescue Mission (www.hiway80rm.org) 3123 W. Marshall Ave., Longview, TX 75604.

Margaret Zeigler Hilliard

February 4, 1931 - November 20, 2022