Lawrence “Wade” Hillyard was born in Phillipsburg, Kansas, on the farm of parents Frederick and Claire Hillyard (Siegrist). The family moved to Santa Ana in 1935, where he grew up with siblings Joanne (Imm), Linda Sue (Arnold), Denton and Darlene (Nichols) Hillyard. He was a 1946 graduate of Santa Ana High School and served in the Korean Conflict as a sergeant in the US Army. He was an accomplished artist and remained passionate about it until his final days. Wade was the last of his siblings but is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
