Hillis Stuart

Hillis Neil Stuart, age 100, left his worn out body behind and was welcomed into his heavenly home by his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on February 22nd, 2026.

Hillis was born on October 5, 1925 in Hastings, Michigan to Esta (Slater) and Lester Stuart. He grew up on a farm in Clarksville, Michigan .He and his future wife Marjory Good became sweethearts while they attended high school in Clarksville. After graduating, Hillis went into U.S. Navy military service. It wasn't long before he and Marjory could not bear to be apart, and she took the train to Gulfport, Mississippi, where Hillis was stationed. They were married there on April 14, 1945.

After the war ended, Hillis returned to Clarksville to resume farming, and also began growing his own family. He and Marjory raised four sons - H. Craig, Lee, Brian, and Matthew.

In 1957, Hillis made the most important decision of his life to accept Jesus as his personal Savior. Marjory made her own decision at the same time. They began attending Clarksville Bible Church and growing in their faith and trust in the Lord. Hillis served as a Sunday School teacher and on church and school boards while dairy and crop farming. After moving to a farm near Portland , Michigan in 1969, the family expanded to include four daughters-in-law, twelve grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren. There were many family gatherings held at the farm, with Hiilis wearing his "What's Cooking, Boss?" apron while grilling burgers and brats. Hillis and Marjory attended several different churches after their move, and settled at Living Gospel Church in Lake Odessa to serve and worship for over 30 years.

Hillis loved farming! The process of preparing the ground, planting the seed, seeing the crops grow, and harvesting them gave him great joy. After Marjory went to heaven in January of 2020, Hillis continued to live in the farrmhouse alone, with help and support from family members. Matt checked in every morning and made sure he had something to eat for the noon meal, since Dad didn't cook. Hillis had a routine that he followed for breakfast and supper with certain cereals and fruits and vegetables he fixed for himself . After he could no longer drive, his son Matt brought him to church. His son Lee and wife Ruth Ann usually took him to lunch at Culver's every week , followed by doing his own grocery shopping at Meijer pushing his own cart to get the things on his list : needed items for breakfast and lunch , cat food , and usually some ice cream , which he always had in the freezer to enjoy. A haircut at his longtime barber was added to the day once a month , as he enjoyed his relationship with her, and we enjoyed each other's company and conversation while helping him do his life according to his routine.. When Lee and Ruth Ann couldn't take him, daughter-in-law Shirley Stuart gladly took him to do his shopping, usually followed by a home-cooked meal at her house with fresh-baked cookies. They enjoyed talking in a quieter location where it was easier to hear conversation , and he enjoyed his favorite foods she prepared for him. Hillis looked forward to son Brian's visits on both Sunday nights and for MSU Spartans basketball games, where he always brought him a snack and sweet tea, along with his companionship. He enjoyed visits from his special nieces Cathy Ritzema and Carol Hamilton, phone calls and visits from his good friends Ken and Julie Slate, talking to his sister Lois and friend Pat Fedewa on the phone, and visits from his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Hillis also enjoyed mowing the lawn with the riding lawn mower (whether it needed it or not), feeding his barn cats morning and night, and helping his son Matt with farm work until his last days living on the farm.

Hillis lived on the farm until June 15, 2025, when health issues made it necessary for him to have more assistance with activities of daily living. He became a treasured resident of Stanford Adult Care Lodge in Sunfield, Michigan for the last 7 months of his life, where he was lovingly cared for by the staff. He enjoyed the home cooked meals there , and always bowed his head and prayed out loud at his table in the dining room , thanking God for his food before taking the first bite. He enjoyed watching the Detroit Tigers on TV in his room there , as he had at home on the farm. When the weather was good , he enjoyed sitting outside after breakfast watching the traffic go by with his best friend Ken Pratt ,who came to Stanford around the same time as Hillis did. He looked forward to being taken to church and Sunday School by Lee and Ruth Ann along with Ken . It was important to him to be with his church family, where he passed out Sunday School papers and greeted people. When Lee and Ruth Ann were not able to take Ken and Hillis to church, Ken and Julie Slate gladly brought them. Brian continued his Sunday night visits and watching MSU basketball with the snacks at Stanford, and also took Hillis out for a rides to see the crops , which he greatly enjoyed. He enjoyed Shirley's weekly visits, when she brought him encouraging conversation and cookies. Hillis also enjoyed his Sunday after church dinners at Wendys with his son Matt , looking at the crops in the fields as they drove there. As the weather got cooler, family members made sure there was corn and suet in the feeders outside the window in his room to attract the birds and squirrels he found delight in watching . He had a constant stream of visits from relatives and church friends who loved him while at Stanford.

Hillis was honored by his church for his 100th birthday on October 5, 2025, during the service and with a dinner afterwards, followed by an open house for family members. When he was no longer able to go out to church after January 11, due to both declining health and the extremely cold weather, Ken Pratt stayed with him at Stanford and streamed the church service on his phone so they could be there virtually. Ken also faithfully read the Bible to Hillis every morning when Hillis began having difficulty reading, a time they both looked forward to and continued to the final days of his life. Julie and Ken Slate visited often during the final days of Hillis's life, with Julie bringing her ukulele and singing comforting songs, including one she composed especially for Hillis about going to heaven , which he often requested her to sing .He longed to go to heaven to be with his Lord in those last weeks of his life.

Hillis was preceded in death by his beloved wife Marjory in January of 2020, when she was welcomed into her heavenly home after almost 75 years of marriage. He was also preceded in death by his father Lester Stuart, mother Esta Kole, stepfather Andy Kole, brothers and wives Wayne and Eleanor Stuart, LD and Norma Stuart, Dick and Marian Stuart, Don and Leahbelle Stuart, brother-in-law Don Willison, and son H. Craig Stuart. He is survived by his sister Lois Willison, daughter-in-law Shirley Stuart and her sons Darin (Melissa), Daryl (Michelle) and Neil, son Lee (Ruth Ann) Stuart and their children Nathan (Jessica) , Mike, David (Jamie), and Liz (Brett Holman), son Brian (Susan) Stuart and their sons Tim (Allison) and Tom (Elizabeth), son Matthew Stuart and his children Steven, Jason (Amanda) and Denise (Nick) Lake, 20 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews who loved him dearly.

Visitation and funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2026 at Living Gospel Church, 1600 Rochester Street in Lake Odessa. Visitation at 10:00am followed by the funeral at 11:00am with Pastor Steve Hadley officiating. There will be a luncheon immediately following the service at the church. The burial service with full military honors will be at Balcom Cemetery, 2362 West Tuttle Road in Ionia at 2:30pm following the luncheon for those desiring to attend.

Memorial gifts may be given to Living Gospel Church. Arrangements in care of Lake Funeral Home in Ionia. Online condolences may be made at www.lakefuneralhomes.com