Blue Springs, MO: Larry Gale Hillyard, 75, Blue Springs, MO passed away Sunday, March 10, 2019 at his home with his loving wife by his side along with other family.
Larry was born February 22, 1944 in Bethany, Missouri the son of Kenneth and Elizabeth (Oswalt) Hillyard. He was born a twin with brother Jerry who was born first that day in a ditch after the car slid off the muddy road on the way to the hospital. The doctor put Jerry in his pocket and Larry was born later at the hospital the same day.
Larry grew up on a farm near Gilman City, Missouri. As a young man, he loved his hot rod cars. He had two different 427 Fords that he loved to tell the kids stories about and how he outran the cops years ago. He would meet his wife, Trish, on a blind date and marry her on August 29, 1965. They were married 53 years. He left the farm at 18 years old to pursue a career at General Motors where he would work 43 years before retiring. Larry enjoyed spending time with his wife and kids and all of his family in the outdoors hunting and fishing, especially his grandchildren when they became old enough to go. He loved growing a big garden and sharing with family and neighbors and attending all of his grandchildren’s sporting events with his wife. He enjoyed doing things himself and could do just about anything from building a house to tearing down engines of cars and rebuilding them and almost everything in between. He was always there to help anyone who would ask. He always tried to teach the things he could do to his family when helping them but mostly he passed along his love. He will be dearly missed by his family and all who knew and loved him.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Elizabeth Hillyard; two brothers, Jerry and Mike Hillyard; nephew, Kirk Hillyard and two nieces, Beth and Veronica Hillyard.
Larry is survived by his wife, Trish Hillyard of the home; son, Todd and Lisa Hillyard, Grain Valley, MO; daughter, Tara and Jason Barndt, Grain Valley, MO; brother, Bill and Sharon Hillyard, Liberty, MO; mother-in-law, Nadine Nicholls, Bethany, MO; 7 grandchildren, Triston, Trevor, Alyssa, Savanna, Dylan, Bethany, and Bella; 4 great grandchildren, Isabella, Benjamin, Madden and Kaleb and a host of nieces, nephews and other family by marriage.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 13 at First United Methodist Church, 301 SW Woods Chapel Rd., Blue Springs, MO under the direction of Roberson Funeral Home, Bethany, MO. The family will receive friends from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Graveside Service and Burial will be held at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday in Miriam Cemetery, Bethany, MO. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Blue Springs and/or Miriam Cemetery in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 46, Bethany, MO 64424. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com