Harris Vernell Hillman

Harris Vernell "Buddy" Hillman was born on December 17, 1946, in Leesville, Louisiana to Aubrey and Loraine Hillman. In the dead of night on October 26, 2025, his wife and daughter took his hands and walked him into eternity. While he took on just about any work he could find in his youth, he was known most prevalently as an electrician for Pride Industries on Fort Polk for 30 years. While a modest portion of his salary was spent on fiscal obligations, the fruits of his labor belonged, above all things, to his wife and daughter. He was a cowboy to the core, raising Texas Longhorns for well over a decade, watching classic Western movies and televisions shows, "supervising" his grandsons' maintenance projects, and much to the dismay of his doctors, eating BBQ any chance he could. If Vern had the remote, you could be certain John Wayne, James Arness, James Stewart, Clint Walker, or The Statler Brothers would be heard in the living room. He'll be fondly remembered every time a Conway Twitty song starts to play. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jo Ann Hillman; daughter, Joy Nell Hillman; parents, Aubrey Hillman and Loraine Martin Hillman; and sister, Yvonne and Tommy Hall. He is survived by his son, John Alexander and wife Laura; grandchildren, Briton Alexander (Lauren), Laiken Fuselier (Trent), Ethan Alexander (Maggie); Logan Taylor (Ashley), Ragen Alexander, and Lori Wiggins; great-grandchildren, Anthony Swaffar, Harper Taylor, and Maverick Taylor; sisters, Maurice Hillman and Donna Hillman Blair (Darrell); nieces, Kara Liles, Mona Marshall, and Stephanie Carriker; nephews, John Blair, Ricky Murphy, Rodney Murphy; his ride-or-dies, Shae and Ross Goins; and a host of great nieces, nephews, and cousins. Vernell's family would like to extend a sincere and special thanks to Lindsey, Bruce, Justin, and LeeAnn from Christus St. Francis Cabrini Hospice, the rehabilitation team at Matthew's Memorial, Jeane's Funeral Service, Shae Goins, Gail Basco, and Ashley Taylor. A graveside service for Vernell will held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at Comrade Cemetery in Simpson under the direction of Jeane's Funeral Service.