CENTRALIA, Ill. -- Maxine Hillis, 94, of Centralia, Ill., passed away Saturday, March 3, 2018 at SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital in Centralia. She was born Hattie Maxine Billiter on Jan. 28, 1924, in Litchfield, Ill., to Harry and Ethel (Frey) Billiter. She was the youngest of 4 children.
When Maxine was a young lady growing-up in Litchfield she met the love of her life before he was shipped overseas during World War II. Her soon to be husband Paul H. Hillis Sr.'s unit stopped in Litchfield and a group was having ice-cream; where Maxine had just finished a Bible Study. She had left her Bible on the chair in the ice-cream parlor and went to retrieve it before a Sailor would sit on it. That Sailor was Paul and he sat right on Maxine's hand. Maxine went on to marry Paul H. Hillis Sr. on Nov. 23, 1945 in Corning, Ark. They always said that God brought them together. They treasured the 70 years of marriage they had before he preceded her in death on July 13, 2016.
Maxine was a devoted mother to her surviving children, Ed Hillis of Philadelphia, Pa., and Karen Copple of Centralia, Ill.; grandmother to her cherished grandchildren, Sara Hillis of Philadelphia, Pa., Jonathan Hillis of Philadelphia, Pa., Jennifer Bate and husband Daniel of Baltimore, Md., and Dayna Hillis of Philadelphia, Pa., Cameron Copple and wife Jennifer (Speidel) of Troy, Ill., Arielle Copple of Centralia, Ill.; also a great-grandmother to her precious great-grandchildren, Owen Edward Hillis, Ryan Xavier Cleary, Evelyn Maxine Boyse, Theodore Henry Copple, and expecting Baby Boy Bate in May of 2018 ; and a host of several nieces and nephews.
Maxine was preceded in death by both her parents, Harry and Ethel (Frey) Billiter; her husband, Paul H. Hillis Sr., of 70 years; her son, Paul H. Hillis Jr.; one sister, Geraldine Anderson and two brothers, Everett "Hap" Billiter, Ellis "Toby" Billiter.
Maxine was a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She was the church secretary and parish visitor for the First United Methodist Church of Poplar Bluff, Mo. In 1968, she started the first Deaf Support Group in Poplar Bluff and taught sign language free of charge to all that wanted to learn. She was also an interpreter for deaf students at Centralia High School and Kaskaskia Community College. She was very involved in her church, Ladies of Kiwanis and Gideons. Maxine was a devout Christian who lived her faith daily.
Family and friends are respectively invited to a visiting hour at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 at Irvin Macz Funeral Home in Centralia, Ill. Immediately after visitation, celebration of life services will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 at Irvin Macz Funeral Home in Centralia with Pastor Anita Munden officiating. Graveside services will also be on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 at 2:30 p.m. in Elm Lawn Memorial Park in Litchfield, Ill. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in Maxine's honor to Gideons and will be accepted at the funeral home. Online condolences and memories of Maxine may be shared with the family at www.maczfuneralhomes.com and/or the funeral home's Facebook page.
Paid