RICHARD HILLIS

RICHARD HILLIS FEBRUARY 3, 1956-OCTOBER 6, 2014 Writer Rick Hillis passed away unexpectedly in Texas on October 6, 2014 while on sabbatical from DePauw University of Greencastle, Indiana where he was an Associate Professor of English. Richard Lyle Hillis was born February 3, 1956 in Nipawin, Saskatchewan and grew up in Aneroid, Gull Lake, and Moose Jaw. He was the first in his family to attend university and received his B.Ed. from University of Saskatchewan. He went on to attend the prestigious Iowa Writers Workshop and was a Stegner Fellow and Jones Lecturer at Stanford University. His books include the poetry collection The Blue Machines of Night and the short story collection Limbo River, winner of the Drue Heinz Literature Prize. His work received numerous accolades in Canada and the United States, appeared in many literary journals and anthologies and was read on CBC radio. He taught at Stanford, UC Hayward, Lewis and Clark, Reed College, DePauw University and the Iowa Summer Writers Festival. He was also a songwriter and screenwriter, holding a Chesterfield Film Writers Fellowship at Universal Studios in Los Angeles. He leaves behind decades of students he has taught to appreciate the written word, several recently finished manuscripts and as an organ donor, his heart and lungs for the use of others.

He is survived by his wife, Emily Doak of Greencastle, Indiana, his children Cullen and Cassidy Hillis of Portland, Oregon, his parents Lyle and Joyce Hillis of Medicine Hat, Alberta, his siblings Doug (Karen Chad) Hillis of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Shelley (Joe) Tien of Medicine Hat, Alberta, Brian (Kate Tseng) Hillis of Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and Karen (Colin) Steed of White Rock, New Mexico. He was predeceased by grandparents Arthur and Maisie Hillis and Luke and Dorrie Morgan.

Celebrations of Rick's life will take place in Saltcoats, Saskatchewan and Greencastle, Indiana at later dates.