BILLY WAYNE HILLIARD, 78, of Paris, passed from this life at his residence on Monday August 5, 2013. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Friday August 9, 2013 in the chapel of Starrett Funeral Home with Rev. Danny White officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Billy was born February 26, 1935 in Carrollton, a son of Ernest and Mannie Dora Grimes Hilliard. He attended Carrollton schools, and was employed by Simmons Mattress Factory in Dallas, and in 1960 he was employed by the Manor Baking Company. It was during these days that he met his future wife Frances Johnson. She became Frances Johnson Hilliard on April 25, 1952 in Carrollton, and together they shared sixty-one years. On August 28, 1974 he moved his family to Paris, where he was employed by Merico, Inc. He dedicated thirty-five years of his life to the organization, through its evolution from Merico to Earth Grains, and finally Sara Lee and worked as a bakery supervisor. He enjoyed spending time on his farm in Roxton and going to the casino, but time spent with his family were his most precious moments.

Billy was preceded in death by his parents; by an infant grandson Jimmy Wayne Hilliard, in 1980, and a granddaughter Amber Nichol Hilliard in 1995.

He is survived by his wife Frances; three sons, Jimmy Hilliard and wife Tammy, of Springtown, Larry Hilliard and wife Ever, of Paris, and Randall (Buck) Hilliard and wife Donna, of Roxton; four daughters, Janis Brown and husband Phillip, of LaRue, Texas, Brenda Newby and husband Danny, of Garland, Cindy Allen and husband Randy, of Brookston, and Shelly McCloud and husband Kenneth, of Sumner; twenty grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; a sister, Barbara Gaskill, and husband Wilburn, of Grapevine; and his beloved canine friend Buddy.

Serving as pallbearers will be Gerald Oates, John Miller, Paul Kuykendall, grandsons Cody Holman, Wesley Holman, Billy Hilliard, and Nick McCloud. Named as honorary pallbearers are Glenn Easley, Pat Savage, Trace Ellis and Josh Cooper.