Marilyn Hillyer

Marilyn Bennett Hillyer was promoted from Hospice of East Texas Home Place to her Heavenly Life on August 2, 2006. There will be a Family Graveside Service at Rose Hill Cemetery at 2:00 P.M. on August 6th officiated by Dr. Michael Massar and Rev. Scott Wiley followed by a Celebration of Marilyn?s Life at 3:00 P.M. at First Baptist Church, Tyler. Visitation will be at the Stewart Family Funeral Home on Saturday August 5th from 5:30 - 7:30 PM. Marilyn was born on April 8, 1936 in Jackson, TN to Howard C. and Mary Lee Bennett. She attended Kilgore High School and graduated from Baylor University in 1956 with degrees in journalism, history, and English. She married George W. (Bill) Hillyer on July 20, 1956, and they recently celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary with family and friends. Marilyn had a lifelong passion for teaching adult Sunday School and cherished and nurtured each and every one of her class members. She was a Deacon in the First Baptist Church and active in Baptist General Convention of Texas work as a member of their Executive Board and on numerous committees of that Board. During their thirty years in the Air Force, she and Bill lived in 17 different places highlighted by six years in Hawaii. While in Hawaii, she edited the Hawaii Baptist newspaper and was a Docent in Iolanii Palace (home of the last King and Queen of Hawaii). Throughout their time in the Air Force, she assumed many responsibilities working with the Officer and Enlisted Wives while her husband?s units were at home and deployed. Her substantial contributions in support of the lives of military families was highly praised and respected. Following their retirement, Marilyn and Bill moved to Tyler, TX. While caring for her mother in the early 1990?s, she was active in the Alzheimer?s Association and edited their monthly newsletter. She and Bill enjoyed traveling and they made a number of stateside driving trips as well as trips overseas to such places as Italy, Greece, Turkey, England, Scotland, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, and Spain. She was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. Howard C. and Mary Lee Bennett and is survived by her loving husband of 50 years, Bill Hillyer; two daughters and sons-in-laws, Susan Kate and Kip Mouser of Tyler and Frances and Roger Ridlehoover of Manhattan Beach, CA; four grandchildren, Laura Ridlehoover (22) of San Francisco, CA, Dan Ridlehoover (19) and Will Ridlehoover (16) of Manhattan Beach, CA, and Katie Mouser (10) of Tyler; two sisters and their husbands, Kate and John Fite of Lewisville, TX, and Susan and Ken Livingston of College Station, TX, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and their children. Honorary pallbearers are the Deacons of First Baptist Church and the members of the M&M Sunday School Class. If desired, memorial donations may be made to the Hospice of East Texas, to the Faith Village Programs of the First Baptist Church Tyler, or a charity of one's choice. For more information or to express condolences, visit www.stewartfamilyfuneral.com.

Marilyn Hillyer

April 8, 1936 - August 2, 2006