Beloved son, husband, father and grandfather, John M. Hilliard, left this world to be with the Lord November 29, 2024. John was a native of Iraan, TX and currently lived in Haughton, LA. He died surrounded by family members.
John was a 1962 graduate of Iraan High School in Iraan, TX. John loved his country and served 20 years in the US Airforce, completing tours in Vietnam, Thailand and Korea overseas as well as Plattsburgh, NY; Belton, MO; Sherman, TX; Big Spring, TX; and Bossier, LA stateside. He finished his military career as a Master Sergeant in 1982 at Barksdale Air Force Base.
Following his military career, he worked for Transit Alert and Lear Jet at Barksdale AFB in Bossier; and Snap-On Tools as a government/military sales executive where he retired in 2002.
Visitation will be held at Hill Crest Memorial Funeral Home & Park, 601 US Hwy. 80 East, Haughton, LA on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, from noon until religious services at 2 pm, conducted by the Reverend Harold Coburn. Interment will follow at Hill Crest Memorial Cemetery with military honors.
John and his loving wife, Mary, were longtime members of the Red River Street Rod Club owning a black 1955 Chevy Belaire hard top, which was rebuilt from the ground up by him and his son, Wayne.
John is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Mary; sons Robert “Wayne” Hilliard and wife, Becky; Richard W. Hilliard and wife, Melissa; grandsons, Kyle and Brandon, Casey and Daniel, and Brennan (Heather); step-grandchildren, Tarah Thomas (Kyle), Peyton Lytle (Caleb), Skylar Sanford, and Nicholas Millard (Tiffany); nephew, Bradley Hilliard and wife, Theresa; and nine great-grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John Bradley “Bo-Bo” Hilliard and Bernice; his in-laws, Robert and Hadis English; his brother, Danny Hilliard and sister-in-law, Louetha; and nephew, Barry Hilliard.
Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Kyle, Brandon, Casey and Daniel; nephews, Brad Hilliard and James “Andy” Anderson. Honorary pallbearers will be Mike Paul and members of the Lone Wolf Car Club, Bo Blount, Ron Hurd, Gene Taylor, Glenn George, and Tom Jowers.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to the Percy R. Johnson Burn Foundation, earmarked for Camp I’m Still Me.
