Ralph Eugene Hilliard

Ralph Eugene ”Gene” Hilliard MARION-Ralph Eugene “Gene” Hilliard, 87, of Marion passed away at 9:27 AM, Tuesday, December 25, 2007 at Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM, Sunday, December 30, 2007 at the Blue Funeral Home in Marion with Reverend Victor Long officiating. Visitation will be from 11:00 AM until time of the service on Sunday. Burial will be at Rose Hill Cemetery in Marion. Memorials may be made to the Shriner’s Hospital; envelopes are available at the funeral home or may be sent c/o Blue Funeral Home, PO Box 411, Marion, IL 62959. Mr. Hilliard was born July 17, 1920 in Williamson County, Illinois to Thomas and Elizabeth (Tanner) Hilliard. He married Daphne July 31, 1943 in Marion Arkansas, she preceded him in death. Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law James and Debbie Hilliard of Marion; daughter and son-in-law Judy and Terry Hood of California; son-in-law Charles “Butch” Farner on Marion; sister Louise Walker of Marion; grandchildren Scott Hilliard Farner, Tracy Pomeroy, James “J.D.” Hilliard, Jennifer Russell; great-grandchildren Zachary and Tucker Farner, Daphne and Chloe Pomeroy, Ryan and Ashley Hilliard. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Daphne; daughter Carol Jean Farner; brothers Frank Hilliard, Fred Hilliard, and Orville Hilliard. Mr. Hilliard was a Shriner, Life Member of the Ainad Temple, 32nd degree Mason and past Master Mason, Life Member of the Marion Fellowship Lodge #89, Served in the United State Navy during World War II as a seamen second class V-6, member of the American Legion post 147 in Marion, Lifetime member of the Marion Elks BPOE 800, Member of First United Methodist Church in Marion, he coached youth and American Legion baseball for over thirty years, he sponsored the Gene Hilliard Wooden Bat Tournament, he retired after forty years with the U.S. Postal Service.