Hershel Eugene Pillow and Mae Addline Pillow

On Feb 22, 2021 at approx. 10:55am, Mae Addline Pillow passed very quietly in our family home, with her husband, Hershel Eugene Pillow by her side. Dad had been by her side for 70 years strong but most recently her primary caregiver for the past 6 months while she was on hospice care. God blessed us with an additional 6 months that was originally not expected. During that 6 months, my family got even closer to both of my parents and spent a lot more quality time with them.

On March 7, 2021 at 5:35am, not quite 2 weeks later, Hershel Eugene Pillow passed away in the hospital from complications of Covid, but I believe more in response to the loss of the love of his life. That, and God saw it far better for him to be home with Jesus and momma.

Mom and Dad met and married in 1950 having only known each other for 3 months. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary this past Dec 30th, 2020 surrounded by many friends, family & loved ones. Mom also recently celebrated her 90th birthday and we had a drive by parade to celebrate. She said she never did have such a great birthday and never had a parade. She asked ‘Where did you get all those people?’

Mae Addline Pillow was born on 01/24/1931 as Mae Addline Haynes in Marked Tree, Arkansas to Thomas James Haynes and Francis Addline Haynes (Grimes). She was proceeded in death by both parents and all siblings – Bertha Anderson of Houston, TX, Mabel Yearry of Kentucky, Minnie Yearry of Arkansas, Daisy Allen of Arkansas, Mazie Ipock of Kentucky, Thomas Haynes of Arkansas, Betty Reyes of Arizona and JT Haynes of Arkansas. She worked for Humble ISD for many, many years in the School Cafeteria and was known and loved by so many. A couple favorite memories from Trish: Probably most meaningful was when she would come out of her bedroom with tears in her eyes. I knew she’d been with Jesus. Another was sitting on the front porch singing and harmonizing with my mom. Probably up until a few days before her passing, she still sang ‘Teddy Bear’ with me. Also, when us girls went shopping. I don’t remember if it was Globe or Woolco or where, but we would buy a package of chocolate covered peanut clusters and giggle and eat them all the way home. They never made it home and the evidence was concealed quickly! My mom loved her chocolate. This past Valentine’s day 2021, she said ‘I wonder how many boxes of chocolate I’ll get for Valentines’. Dad was then on a mission and asked me to find the biggest box of chocolates there was. I found a place that would do a 4 lb specialty box. Mom got that box along with about 8 other boxes of chocolates and was in chocolate paradise!

Hershel Eugene Pillow was born on 09/28/1931 in Paragould, Arkansas to Thomas Virgil Pillow and Rosie Idell Pillow (Wallace). He was proceeded in death by both parents, his wife, and 5 of 6 siblings – Tommy Pillow of Porter, TX, Harry Pillow of Houston, TX, Billy Ray Pillow of Houston, TX, Leon Pillow of Bowie, TX & Virginia Hughes of Bowie, TX. He is survived by 1 brother Bobby Pillow of Houston, TX. Dad didn’t have any education to speak of, maybe a 6th grade education because he had to help his family with crop sharing. He met mom at a basket factory in Arkansas and quickly married. Less than a year later, they started their family. He moved his family from Arkansas to Houston, TX in 1952. He worked for Brookside Memorial for several years and dug what is now known as Heron Lake. Dad later bought property in Porter, TX and built his brother’s home 1st, then built our family home – mostly by himself! He worked for FH Maloney for 35+ years. While at FH Maloney, he rose thru the ranks quickly. He also was a very brilliant man. When he had a need for a better way to do things at work, he built machines to accomplish it. He sold several to his company. He retired only because his company moved to a different city and he wouldn’t uproot his family. Retirement looked good on daddy as he loved to work with his boys in his garage, shop and/or kitchen, all of which he built himself as well.

Memory from David - The first church I remember attending with Mom and Carl was across the highway from Brookside Cemetery in about 1956. When Pastor Cowart asked Mom to teach Sunday School, she told him, "I don't even know if I'm saved," to which Pastor replied, "Well, let's change that" so they went to the altar and she was saved. Along with teaching, Mom also led worship. Mom later asked Dad if she could pay Tithes to the church and that led Dad to begin attending church where he gave his heart to the Lord. After Dad got saved, he took the family Television out into the woods and threw a hammer at the tube until it was shattered. He got rid of that "One-Eyed Devil." Dad also became a Sunday School teacher and played guitar in the church band along with another guitar player named Clabern Chance. I still have Mom's Kay guitar and Dad's Silvertone guitar - the guitars that Dad played in church.

Afterwards, Mom and Dad attended The House of Prayer Full Gospel church in Houston, TX as founding members with Pastors Clabern and Doris Chance for over 20 years from 1958 until 1979. Dad faithfully served on the church board as well as Sunday School teacher and Superintendent. During these years, Mom gave birth to three more children, Doug, Patricia (Trish) and Chuck. Mom said that this was due in part to Pastor Chance's preaching against birth control. I'm thankful that she decided to have more children. I can't imagine our lives without my precious siblings. Carl and I met our wives in this church.

Our parents then attended Grand Parkway Church for many years and then approx. the last 10 years attended Calvary Outreach Church in Conroe, TX. They were so happy that they found the truth that Christ Jesus came to make us free from sin. He didn’t come to forgive us and leave us to struggle for perfection every day, but came to give us freedom from sin while still here on earth so that when we are called home, the only change is the place of residence, no change of heart. The condition of your heart while you are living determines where you live for eternity. There are no second chances and there is nothing, nor no one worth your soul. Mark 8:36 “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Do you know Christ? Do you know he died to give you a new, clean heart and life? If not, you can know him today. And you too can have that blessed hope to be able to see Jesus and our MawMaw & PawPaw. Titus 2:13-14 “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

Our parents are survived by 5 Children, 14 Grandchildren and 23 Greatgrandchildren. What a Godly legacy they have left behind and we have been blessed by the rich heritage in which they raised us all.

Surviving Children, Grandchildren & Great Grandchildren:

Son: David & his wife Kathy Pillow of Buckhorn, TX

Alan & Marie Pillow, daughter Taormina Pillow of Kingwood, TX & son Collin Pillow of Ellensburg, WA

Brian & Tashina Pillow, children Ethan, Ava & Levi of Dixon, California

Mandy & Daniel Forbis, children Noah, Kailynn & Liberty of North Ridgeville, OH & Jillian Forbis of Biloxi, MS

Angela & Doug Hudman, children Tori, Promise & Isaiah Hudman of Tarkington, TX & Carrie & James Lilly of Jasper, TX

Son: Carl & his wife Shirley Pillow of Porter, TX

Lisa & Chris Roberts & son Jordan of Splendora, TX

Carl & Sherry Pillow of Splendora, TX

Son: Doug & his wife Balinda Pillow of Porter, TX

Billy (BJ) & Alexis Williamson, children Cutter & Ally of Splendora, TX

James & Chelsey Pillow, children Audrina, Abbi & Shane of Porter, TX

Mike Williamson & daughter Remington (Remi) of Porter, TX

Daughter: Patricia (Trish) & her husband Rey Flores of Porter, TX

Brad Pillow & son Logan Pillow, children Dillon & Emily McCants of Porter, TX

Amy & Eric Schellinger of Philadelphia, PA

Son: Chuck & his wife Tara Pillow

Sons Kyle Porter & Jake & Chase Pillow of Porter, TX

Pallbearers

1. Alan Pillow

2. Collin Pillow

3. Brian Pillow

4. Doug Hudman

5. BJ Williamson

6. James Pillow

7. Chris Roberts

8. Carl Brandon Pillow

9. Jordan Roberts

10. Brad Pillow

11. Kyle Porter

12. Jake Pillow

13. Chase Pillow – lead the Pallbearers

14. Honorary Mike Williamson

15. Honorary Eric Schellinger

16. Honorary Daniel Forbis

17. Honorary James Lilly