John Roy Hilliard Jr.

John Roy Hilliard, Jr.

John Roy Hilliard, Jr., age 87, was called home to the loving arms of our Lord on December 21, 2011, in Elgin, Texas. He was born on February 7, 1924, in Irving, Texas, to Rev. John Roy and Ruth Hilliard. He had two brothers, Dan and Jim, and a sister, Maxine. He graduated from Tivy High School in Kerrville, Texas.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Trinity University in San Antonio, a Masters of Science from University of Colorado in Boulder and a Phd from the University of Texas at Austin. He taught biology and was the Chairman of the Biology Department at McMurry College in Abilene, Texas. In 1968, he moved Huntsville, Texas, where he was a Professor of Biology at Sam Houston State University until his retirement. His primary interest was insects and specialized in grasshoppers.

He met his wife while at Trinity University and they were married on Christmas Day, 1950. They raised four children. They had two sons, James R. (Ron) of Elgin, Texas and Richard A. (Rick) of South Bend, Indiana. In 1973, John and Joyce became the guardians of Danielle (11) and Jon (9) Hilliard after his brother and their parents, Dan and Suzanne Hilliard, were killed in a plane crash in Mexico.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his two brothers. He is survived by his wife, Joyce of Elgin, his sister, Maxine Ryan of El Paso, Texas, his four children, Ron Hilliard and his wife Debby of Elgin, Texas, Rick Hilliard and his wife Celeste of South Bend, Indiana, Danielle Henkes and her husband David of San Antonio, Texas and Jon Hilliard and Janie of Vacaville, California. He has 5 grandchildren, Keli Dybus of San Antonio, Joseph Hilliard of San Antonio, Sarah Hilliard of South Bend, Daniel Henkes of San Antonio and Nicole Henkes of San Antonio. He has three great grandchildren, Brittany Dybus of Oklahoma City, Anna Hilliard of San Antonio and Hope Dybus of San Antonio.

John was a gentle man who had a passion for teaching and cared for his students. He served in many leadership positions at St. Stevens Episcopal Church in Huntsville. He especially enjoyed singing in the choir. He was a role model for his children and those he taught. He served in the U.S. Army in the Army of Occupation in Japan. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America as a Troop Committeeman as his two sons both worked their way to the rank of Eagle Scout. John was a loving and dedicated husband and a wonderful father. He treated everyone with kindness and understanding.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, December 28 at 2PM at Providence-Jones Family Funeral Home, Elgin.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, December 29 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Steven’s Episcopal Church at 5019 Sam Houston Ave., Huntsville, Texas 77340.

Friends of John are invited to celebrate his life with members of the family.