Rev. Dr. Stevens Woods Hilyard

1940 - 2025

Rev. Dr. Stevens Woods Hilyard

Zion, IL - A beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother, Stevens Woods Hilyard, 85, passed away on Sunday, April 27, at Aurora Hospital in Kenosha.

Stevens was born in Summit, NJ, on January 18, 1940, to Marjorie (Woods) and Harry L. Hilyard. He graduated from The Pingry School, Hillside, NJ, in 1958, where he was class president, played varsity soccer, and won the state wrestling championship. He majored in English at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME, where he graduated in 1962. He was a member of Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity, serving as chapter president, and was editor of the college yearbook.

Following graduation, Stevens was special assistant to the Bowdoin College librarian. That 18-month job determined his career path. He and his young family went to Ann Arbor, MI, where he received his Master of Library Science degree from the University of Michigan in 1964. His first professional position was reference librarian at Grand Valley State College (now University) in Allendale, MI.

In 1966, at age 26, Stevens was appointed College Librarian at New England College in Henniker, NH. He was the youngest academic library dean in New England and designed and built the college library. In 1975 he was appointed Dean of the Library at Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, KS, and designed and built the Leonard Axe Library. During these years he completed his Doctor of Education in Educational Media Administration at Boston University. In 1982 he was appointed Dean of Libraries and Educational Media Services at the University of Southern Maine.

In 1984 Stevens changed careers. He enrolled at Bangor Theological Seminary, Bangor, ME, in 1986, and graduated with a Master of Divinity in 1989. He was ordained in the United Church of Christ in May 1989. He was a pastor for 20 years, serving UCC congregations in Fort Fairfield, ME; Bismarck, ND; Chicago; and Campbellsport, WI.

He met Nann Blaine in 1980 when she moved to Pittsburg to direct the public library. She paid a professional courtesy call on him. Their first date was February 1, and they were married August 23.

Stevens was an avid reader all his life. Histories, biographies, and mysteries were his favorite genres. He raised pigs on his farm in New Hampshire and for years afterward he received pig-themed gifts on every occasion. He was an emergency medical technician and founding member of the Henniker, NH, Rescue Squad. He was a hospital and hospice chaplain. He sang bass in church and community choirs. In retirement he was a reading tutor, a volunteer chaplain, and an active member of Rotary. He spent the summer of 1959 in Germany with the Experiment in International Living. Later he and Nann enjoyed 48 trips with Road Scholar, including travels to England, Bermuda, and Australia, 7 Canadian provinces, and 48 states.

Stevens was preceded in death by his beloved daughter Amy Jean; his parents; and his sisters, Elizabeth Hilyard Whiteside and Barbara Hilyard Ryan. He is survived by his wife, Nann; his daughter, Julia Fuller, and granddaughters, Rachel and Alyssa Fuller; his sons, Jonathan, Michael, Jeffrey, and Harry, and their families; his brother, David; and his former wives, Jean Lewis and Cynthia Steinmann. He is also survived by nieces and nephews.

Services will be on Saturday, May 17, at Memorial United Methodist Church, 2935 Sheridan Rd., Zion, IL, with visitation at 10:00 a.m. and funeral at 11:00 a.m., followed by a luncheon at the church. Interment will be in the Hilyard/Woods family plot in Passumpsic Cemetery, Waterford, VT.

His life was a gift cherished by family and friends. He is dearly missed.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to Memorial United Methodist Church, Zion, IL, or Bowdoin College Library, c/o Development Office, 4175 College Station, Brunswick, ME 04011, are very much appreciated.