Willis Obie Bill Hilyer

Willis Obie “Bill” Hilyer, Sr., of Dothan passed away Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011 at his residence.

rnFuneral services will be held 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at Watermark Church with Rev. Todd Thorpe officiating. Burial will follow in Ashford City Cemetery with Robert Byrd directing. The family will receive friends from 1-2 pm, prior to the service, at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Wiregrass Shrine Club, Children’s Burn Hospital Fund, 6007 W. Main St., Dothan, AL, 36305. rnMr. Hilyer was born November 1, 1923 and spent the early years of his life in Tallassee and Montgomery, AL. He was a veteran of World War II having served in the U.S. Navy. He moved to Ashford in 1962 where he and his family lived for over 40 years and he owned and operated Hilyer Auto Parts. He later moved to Dothan. Mr. Hilyer was a member of the First Baptist Church of Ashford, the Wiregrass Shrine Club, and he was also a Mason. He loved spending time with his family, enjoyed the beach, fishing and telling tall tales. He had the special gift for making people laugh. He was preceded in death by his wife Hazel Elmore Hilyer. rnSurvivors include his children, Deborah Hilyer Woodfin Milton of Prattville, AL, David Hilyer of Pensacola, FL, Bill Hilyer, Jr. Darlene of Dothan and Pam Hilyer Rotshtein of Beverly Hills, CA; grandchildren, Kasey Woodfin Hope TR, Zachary Woodfin Fawn, Cameron Hilyer, Ashley Hilyer, and Batia Rotshtein; great-grandchildren, Kloe Hope and Cade Hope; sisters, Voncile Redding and Curvelle Richardson; sisters-in-law, Robbie Brown and Jane Hilyer; numerous nieces and nephews also survive. rnThe family would like to extend a very special thank you to the staff of Wiregrass Hospice and all of Mr. Hilyer’s caregivers to include Edna Whattley, Sarah Alford, Lorraine Saffold, Betty Ammons, Elaine Jones, and Hazel Hollis. Burial Date: January 1, 1970