McMinnville resident and Van Buren County native Elzy Lawson “E.L.” Hillis, 91, was born Oct. 13, 1921 and died Sept. 16 at his residence following an extended illness.
A retired logger and saw mill operator, a United States Army veteran of World War II, and a member of Mt. View Church of Christ, he was the son of the late Erastus Theodore and Sallie Belle McBride Hillis. He was married to Loretta Wilcher Hillis, who preceded him in death Jan. 8, 2004. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by son, Barry Hillis; four sisters, Retha Davis, Eunice Clark, Bessie Nichols and Sue Welch; and five brothers, Cecil, Les, Arbie, Tom and Vick Hillis.
He is survived by nine children and their spouses, Gary and Gail Hillis, Sandra Stubblefield, Steve and Mary Sue Hillis, Retta and Dale Martin, and Tracie and Stan Myers, all of Rock Island, and Tom Hillis, Darlene and Anthony Malone, Jennifer and Jeff Wanamaker and Lisa and Shawn Barrett, all of McMinnville; daughter-in-law, Phyllis Hillis of Rock Island; 19 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in High’s Chapel. Burial will follow at Mt. View Cemetery, Highway 30 with full military honors administered by VFW Post 5064 and American Legion Post 173. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until the time of service Wednesday at High’s.
High Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Sept. 18, 2013