Neta Jo (Hays) Dillard, devoted wife, loving mother and faithful friend, went home to be with her heavenly father on April 16, 2018 due to a lengthy illness. Though the past 7 years have been challenging facing declining health and suffering the loss of two of her sons, she trusted her savior and rose above with such beauty and grace. She often spoke fondly of the day that she would enter the gates of heaven and to be greeted by him and be reunited with her beloved mother to whom she was very close and with her two beloved sons whom she has deeply missed. She was 80 years young.
Neta was born in Opelika, Texas to Walter Thomas Hays and Marcelle Cox Hays, in the home of her maternal grandmother. Neta grew up in Tyler where she graduated from Tyler High School in 1956 and then went on to attend Tyler Junior College where she was a member of the Apache Belles and during that time was also "Miss Tyler" in 1957. In 1959, she married Ted Moorman Dillard and after having the first of three sons she left her job at the Ramey Law Firm to be a devoted wife and mother. She was a longtime member of Green Acres Baptist Church.
Neta was known for her love of antiques and her uncanny ability to know the history and back story on nearly every antique she acquired over the years. She loved planning for the holidays, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas and in keeping with tradition, with her home beautifully decorated, warm and inviting she began days before, cooking a wonderful meal that she shared with family and friends. She loved time with family and friends and she and Ted made it a long-standing tradition to have dinner every Friday night at El Charo Mexican Restaurant with Joann and Harold Wilder. When she wasn't antique shopping Neta enjoyed being outside and working in the yard, keeping up the barn and her house was always immaculate, everything always in its place.
She is survived by her loving husband of 58 years; son Terry Cox Dillard of Tyler; two granddaughters, Lauren Dillard of Ben Wheeler and Devon Wyszynski and husband Tom of Houston; and a great grandson, Jameson Wyszynski of Houston; numerous cousins whom she loved dearly; a host of wonderful friends that she has had for many years and some of which are members of Ms. Betty Reedy's Sunday school class at Green Acres Baptist Church who have faithfully prayed for Neta and her family for many years; her best friend of 68 years, Joann Wilder; her beloved and devoted blue healer, Sugar, who has been faithfully by her side for over 9 years.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her son, Clay Moorman Dillard; and her son, Kyle Justin Dillard.
Please join the family for visitation which will be at Lloyd James Funeral Home on Friday, April 20, 2018 from 2:00 p.m. followed by a celebration of Neta's life which will begin at 3:00 p.m. thereafter.
Because of Neta's love of animals and the love she has for her devoted companion, Sugar, as well as her great appreciation for what the people at Hospice do to provide care, comfort and support to those in their final phase of life and their families she expressed a desire that in lieu of flowers or gifts please direct memorials to the East Texas SPCA or to Hospice of East Texas.
